Introduction
Despite not featuring prominently, navy and naval operations play a significant role in Tolkien’s Middle Earth. In the First Age, elves of Feanor come to Middle Earth from Valinor across the sea; their kinsmen, who had been forced to use the land route, suffer terribly. In the last battle of the Age, host of Valar comes across the sea. In the Second Age, Numenor holds mastery of the sea, exploiting it fully to its strategic, operational, tactical and logistical advantage. In the Third Age, Gondor continues as a naval power, but has to contend with Corsairs of Umbar – Sauron having wisened up to the importance of naval operations.
Primary sources used are History of Middle Earth and Lord of the Rings. Also used are Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, albeit those books are used in Croatian translation instead of English original; I apologize in advance for any issues with reverse-translation.
Notes on terminology
While Tolkien was familiar with Byzantine history, he was first and foremost a scholar of English literature. As such, his usage of “dromon”, “dromond” or “dromund” does not necessarily denote Byzantine-style war galley. Rather, Middle English dromond can describe any particularly large medieval ship.
Tall ships are mentioned on several occasions. This is a general term for a large, traditionally rigged sailling vessel. With sail-only propulsion and high freeboard, they are uniquely suited for oceanic voyages. Such ships include barque, brigantine, brig and clipper though most famous tall ships are likely 17th to 19th century ships of the line. Whether tall ships of Tolkien’s vision are of such construction, or more similar to caravel and carrack type ships, or perhaps Northern European cogs which preceded those, is unclear.
Ship types
First Age
Teleri came to Valinor in “swan-shaped boats”, and they continued using swan ships in Valinor. It is those ships that Feanor took for his voyage to Middle Earth. In other versions of the tale, Teleri were carried to Valinor on Tol Eressea, and only once near Valinor did Ulmo teach them to build ships. (HoME 5) Teleri ships which Feanor took had both sail and oars, and Feanor took them along the coasts, indicating perhaps galley-style ships – but that hardly fits with the long journey they made to Middle Earth. Many ships were sunk by Uinen’s storm. (HoME 5) In versions of tale where Teleri built their own ships for trek to Valinor, Osse was the one who taught them shipbuilding. (HoME 12)
Tuor built a “great ship” Earame, on which he sailed to the West. Later Earendil would build Vingelot, and travel to Valinor to seek help from the Valar. (HoME 5) Earendil’s ship was said to have neither sail nor oar, indicating perhaps that both were standard fare on ships. (HoME 7)
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