Chola Imperial Navy Warships

Timeline

1. 1171–1174Thanjavur–Nagapattinam coast · Tamil NaduChola warships used local teak hulls fitted with square sails and oars, often with a ram or reinforced prow; the crown and local chiefs maintained standing fleets through shipyards and artisan guilds to escort national merchant vessels and collect port dues.
2. c. 1175–1178Bay of Bengal–Strait of Malacca route · Bay of BengalIn the 1170s Chola fleets sailed with the southwest monsoon to Sri Lankan and Southeast Asian ports, working with merchant networks to suppress piracy and establish trade monopolies; warships also carried infantry for landings, reflecting the South Indian tradition of using navies as instruments of regional hegemony.
3. 1178–1180Pandya kingdom coast (south of Madurai) · Tamil NaduChola and Pandya again contended fiercely in the late 12th century; the navy blockaded enemy ports, ferried reinforcements, and protected supply lines, making warship strength and port mobilization capacity key military assets in deciding Coromandel's political balance.