Size
Viking warships varied in size, but were mostly between 60 and 90 feet long and 8.5 to 13 feet wide. They required 20 to 30 oarsmen and could carry as many as 120 warriors into battle. According to Viking sagas, one of the largest ships ever built was the Long Serpent, made for King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway. Built in 1000 AD, it was over 120 feet long and carried 200 men.
Navigation
Vikings are famous for their navigational ability -- using the sun and the stars, bearing dials, and even birds to help them in their journey. But since warships were not designed to sail into the deep sea -- especially at full capacity with warriors ready for raiding or battle -- warships were more likely to sail along the coast and hop from island to island.
Life on Board
Since the boats were narrow and there were many men on board, Vikings took every opportunity to leave the crowded ship. They would go ashore, steal the nearest livestock -- which they called "strand-hogg" or "beach kill" -- and cooked them. The crew, made up mostly of freeborn men, had to be on constant alert for other ships that could attack and rob their own.
Sea Battles
Viking sagas describe sea battles being fought by lining up two opposing fleets with the bows of the ships facing the enemy. The defending fleet would fasten their ships alongside each other with the strongest and largest ship in the center. Attackers would climb upon the smaller boats, fighting warriors along the way and throwing spears and arrows at the center ship. Once a smaller ship had been commandeered, the attackers would set it adrift from the rest of the defending fleet. Depending on the strength of the two armies, the attackers would either retreat with the captured boat and booty or would continue to fight until the center ship was taken.
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