Project Green Jet - a vision of the future of sailing

The most compelling evidence yet that history hasn’t fully unearthed a fraction of human maritime history is Gavin Menzies 1421 book. Menzies modern day (the book was only published in 2002) forensic work has brought to light the story of the world’s first globally-aimed trade mission, using the vast resources of the Ming Dynasty and world-leading Chinese Naval Technology and seamanship. Chinese Muslim Admiral Zheng He’s most famous voyage of 1421 saw him command 28,000 sailors across a fleet of 320 ships, comprised mainly of large six-masted ships but including 62 NINE-masted treasure ships with four decks, 150 metre length and capable of carrying 500 passengers.

In 1420, China’s navy was easily the largest in the world, with 400 large war junks stationed at Nanking, 1,350 warships, river and canal patrol boats stationed elsewhere, 3,000 merchant vessels that could be converted into fighting ships if needed, 400 huge grain transports, and 250 “treasure ships,” heavily-armed, bulk overseas treasure carriers that brought back riches from far flung missions of trade and diplomacy.

Admiral Zheng He’s most prodigious discovery fleet of 1421 was as self-sufficient as the current U.S. Navy in every respect with a well-thought out representation of every conceivable need – from on-board desalination facilities, a dispersed set of well-trained single-purpose personel including doctors, scientific explorers, trade merchants, warriors, sailors, entertainers and courtesans, who sailed with the fleet to staff the on-board brothels.

The Chinese Navy was not just extremely organized and large – boat against boat, it’s massive technological advantage gave it a range of state-of-the-art armaments that would have decimated any European fleet of the time.

Chinese Firepower

It must be remembered that the Chinese invented gunpowder and had learned to use it to great effect for military purposes over many centuries. Whilst the West was fumbling with slow-loading inaccurate cannons, the Chinese fleet was armed with an array of cannon from small to fearsome, PLUS rockets which could be fired with a high degree of accuracy to set alight enemy sails, rendering them immobile while the cannons were accurately aimed.

Many people have cast doubts about the designs of the largely flat-bottomed Chinese boats and their ability to safely sail on the open seas, yet compelling evidence exists that the fleet sailed to all corners of the world and landed an unbelievable treasure trove at Nanking across several years as the fleet returned from its voyages of discovery.

The Admiral, legend has it, on several occasions filled the harbour of key overseas ports, with the fleet anchored all the way to the horizon, in order to intimidate those who were not seen as compliant enough. These displays of overwhelming military force must surely ranks amongst history’s most spectacular moments.

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