The Pentekonter

In the thirteenth century B.C., the most powerful ship in the Mycenaean Greek fleet was the pentekonter, a vessel which ranged from between 28 to 33 meters long, with a square midship mast, and was rowed by fifty men, hence the name.  With its long, sharp keel, a pentekonter was fast and versatile, with a top speed of 9 knots, or 18km/hr, and could be driven up onto the beach at night.  Pentekonters were used as troop transports for war, as pirate ships, or for trade, with the cargo being stored in compartments under the rowing benches, as there was no below deck.

During wartime, the pentekonter's crew were the soldiers themselves.  They stored their armor and gear below their benches.  When a enemy was sighted or when the crew was about to make an amphibious landing in hostile territory, as at Troy, they had perhaps a moment's notice to get ready.

Jason's famous Argo was a pentekonter.  And all the ships you see in the film Troy, as shown below, are also pentekonters.