Similar goes for Indian Battle ship that can be a War Dhow
“A Dhow being the most popular ‘broad’ class of the ship at that time in Indo-African & Indian Ocean”
TRIVIA
As before the british subjugated and monopolised the Indian Ship building for themselves. The Indian Ships were the Go-to Ships for Indian Ocean trade. The Indian ships needed repair in 50 yrs, unlike 12yrs of europeon ships. And were used in Indo-african trade. Extensively.According to Vasco Da Gama(Portugese Guy who found sea route to India) meets a Gujrati(Indian ethnicity) merchant in Malindi, Kenya. Da Gama had the biggest ship in the whole of Europe at that time and he mentions that this Gujrati merchant had 3 ships 12 times the size of his ship (Dhows). And mind you these were merchant ships not some sort of Warships. With their company and help Vasco Da Gama came to India.
COLONIAL HISTORY
As British had a strategy to not appear inferior as Coloniser. They imposed unfair trade barricades and eventual dismantling of the millennial old Dominant Quality Ship building industry. Previously, the Highest quality timber was used to make some of the finest ships in the world, with maneuverability in Indian ocean’s volatile weathers. But later the timber was only exported, and the Building yard were converted to scapeyards where the ships only take their last breath.
Against 34,286 Indian ships which entered and cleared Indian ports in 1857(Year of Sepoy Revolt and British Direct occupation replacing East India Company) with 1,219,958 tons, only 1676 ships did so with 109,813 tons, in 1900. The final blow to the Local Ship building comes With Iron cladding and Post industrial revolution that were like a Final nail to the slowed down and subjugated industry. There were still some noteworthy ports and practices that managed to stay alive, off course with British involvement. Like bombay marines (also in-game card) etc.
DESIGN IMPACTS
Among others a major design adoption by british was, and letting go of Weaker Poop Deck and Fore castles for Flush Decks. Ispired by Bengali Rice Ships
OR
If we are strictly going for the colonial period, Indo-Europeon ships are a better choice.
Different ships of MARATHA Navy and captured Eships.
Wadia Era ship made for Royal Navy. OLDEST British warship still afloat
ALSO
The GI tagged Uru. Also known as Fat Boat in English, is a type of Dhow made in Beypore, Kerala in southwest coast of India.
The art of Uru making is as old as the beginnings of India’s maritime trade with Mesopotamia. Islands dotting the Chaliyar river have continued the tradition for over a millennium.
