The White Council

Re: Numénorean ships

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: : I would imagine that Elendil would have been forced to use : : whatever ships were available at the time. The number of : : passengers and crew may have amounted to less than 1000 : : (total).

: Keep in mind that at least one of Elendil's ships carried a huge spherical orb which several men could stand around. That was the master stone of the Palantiri, which eventually ended up in Osgiliath. If the ships were not designed for speed or warfare, they could well have been left alone by Ar-Pharazon.

I'm not sure 'huge' is the best adjective for the Master Stone (at least not the one which was brought to Middle-earth). The lesser stones were said to have been approximately one foot in diameter, and of the greater stones (Amon Sul and Osgiliath) the only comment I recall was that they required more than one man to lift them (whether due to their weight or their volume is not made clear).

But even ships which were not designed for speed or warfare could have been useful as troop and supply transports. An armada the size of Ar-Pharazon's would have been required to move slowly in order that the fleet could be kept together, so speed would probably not have been a constraint. The only ships I can think of that would not have been of use would be those that lacked oars (since the winds could not be relied upon). Curiously, the wind accompanying the tidal wave which destroyed Numenor is said to have rent the sails and snapped the masts of Elendil's ships.

Also, Amandil's words in the Akkalabeth suggest that the number of Elendil's followers was small:

'... But for you and your folk, my son, I counsel that you should prepare yourselves other ships, and put aboard all such things as your hearts cannot bear to part with; and when the ships are ready, you should lie in the haven of Romenna, and give out among men that you purpose, when you see your time, to follow me into the east. Amandil is no longer so dear to our kinsman upon the throne that he wil grieve over much, if we seek to depart, for season or for good. But let it not be seen that you intend to take many men, or he will be troubled, because of the war that he now plots, for which he will need all the force that he may gather. Seek out the Faithful that are known still to be true, and let them join you in secret, if they are willing to go with you, and share in your design.'