Fleet sizes?

[el Voz]

Let me add, that when ships were built they lasted a life time. What has shortened the life span of ships is not age, but technology.

Even though the ships were made of wood, routine maintence kept the ships lasting a long time.

I say this, because old ships could be several decades old, but because of the lack of technogical advances, still be considered a frontline ship.

Therefore, your numbers could be skewed by ship construction that occured a long time ago.

 

[Darkness]

LOL @ MythandLore!

Agreed!

Anyway, MythandLore's post raises a good point about naval warfare (or travel, really): The sea is treacherous terrain and, no matter the number of your ships and men, may completely destroy you without warning. (Which did in the Spaniards and the Mongols, at least; dunno about the Persians. Side note: IIRC, the Mongols tried again a few years later - and lost.)