THE MENDAM BERAHI

While the Mendam Berahi (the legendary royal galley of Hang Tuah) is largely regarded by historians as a literary symbol in the Hikayat Hang Tuah, its existence in folklore points to a very real historical truth: the Melaka Sultanate was a global maritime powerhouse with sophisticated naval technology.

Recent archaeological finds and historical records support your point that their maritime prowess was far from mythical.

1. Archaeological Proof of "Giant" Ships

In late 2025, a significant archaeological discovery on Melaka Island (Pulau Melaka) uncovered the remains of an ancient vessel estimated to be between 50 to 70 meters long.

• Larger than Legend: This ship is actually larger than the descriptions of the mythical Mendam Berahi (which was roughly 50–55 meters).
• Advanced Engineering: The ship was built using high-quality local hardwoods like Saga and Merbau. Most notably, it used "sewn-plank" and dowel technology—no metal nails—allowing the hull to be flexible and resilient against the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

2. The Melakan "Jong" (Junk)

The backbone of Melaka's trade and naval defense was the Jong. European explorers, including the Portuguese who eventually conquered Melaka, were stunned by these vessels.

• Size and Strength: Portuguese chroniclers like Tomé Pires and Duarte Barbosa noted that Melakan Jongs were often larger than Portuguese galleons. Some had up to four layers of planking to resist cannon fire.
• The "World Shaker": Afonso de Albuquerque famously encountered a massive Malay Jong during his journey to Melaka; his own flagship was dwarfed by it, and his cannons could barely penetrate its thick wooden hull.

3. A Fleet for War and Trade

Melaka’s fleet was not just about size; it was about specialized roles:

• Lancaran & Penjajab: These were fast, maneuverable "raider" ships used for patrolling the Straits and pursuing pirates. They could be both rowed and sailed, making them lethal in the calm or unpredictable winds of the tropics.
• Ghali (Galleys): While the Mendam Berahi is called a ghali, historians note that Mediterranean-style galleys became more common in the region slightly later (16th century). However, Melaka already utilized similar long, oared vessels for royal transport and naval strikes.

4. Strategic Command: The Laksamana

The maritime prowess was also organizational. The position of Laksamana (Admiral) was one of the four highest posts in the government. The Laksamana didn't just lead battles; they managed the Orang Laut (Sea People), a specialized naval force whose intimate knowledge of the Straits' hidden currents and sandbars made the Sultanate nearly untouchable for over a century.

Historical evidence suggests that while "Mendam Berahi" might be a romanticized name, the ship it describes was likely a real class of royal vessel that reflected the peak of 15th-century Malay naval architecture.

NAVAL TACTICS OF THE MELAKA SULTANATE

The Melaka Sultanate’s naval strategy was a blend of advanced technology, psychological warfare, and an intimate alliance with the "People of the Sea" (Orang Laut). While they faced the Siamese and Portuguese with different tactics, their core philosophy was to use the unique geography of the Straits as a force multiplier.

Here are the specific tactics used by Melaka to defend its sovereignty:

1. Tactics Against the Siamese (1445–1456)

Siam (Ayutthaya) attempted to conquer Melaka twice by land and sea. Melaka’s victory relied on speed and deception:

• Decentralized Mobilization: When the Siamese marched overland through Pahang, Tun Perak (the legendary Bendahara) ordered all men to bring their families to the capital. This wasn't just for safety; it was a psychological tactic. Knowing their families were at the front line, the soldiers fought with desperate ferocity—a tactic that stunned the Siamese.
• "Hit-and-Run" Harrassment: During the 1456 naval battle at Batu Pahat, the Melakan fleet used smaller, faster boats to "reconnoiter" the massive Siamese fleet. Historical accounts (like the Sejarah Melayu) describe Tun Umar (a brave knight) charging alone in a single boat, zigzagging through the Siamese formation, sinking several ships, and escaping before they could react. This sowed confusion and demoralized the Siamese commanders.
• The Fire Torch Ruse: At night, Melakan forces tied torches to mangrove trees and floating driftwood along the coast. From a distance, the Siamese believed a massive relief fleet had arrived to reinforce Melaka, causing them to retreat in panic.

2. Tactics Against the Portuguese (1511)

The conflict with the Portuguese was a clash of two different eras of warfare. Melaka’s tactics were defensive and focused on denying the Portuguese a landing point:

• Stockade and Artillery Defense: Melaka was a fortified city. The Sultan’s forces erected heavy wooden stockades along the riverbanks and on the crucial Melaka Bridge. They deployed over 3,000 pieces of artillery (mostly bronze rantaka and lela). While these had shorter ranges than Portuguese ship cannons, they were lethal in the close-quarters of the harbor.
• Poisoned Projectiles: The Melakans made extensive use of blowpipes (sumpit) and arrows tipped with Ipoh poison. Portuguese chroniclers noted that even a scratch from these arrows often led to a lingering, painful death, which terrified the European soldiers during the bridge assaults.
• Fire-Ship Attacks: Melaka launched "fire-barges"—boats filled with pitch, oil, and dry wood—drifting them downriver toward the Portuguese fleet on the falling tide. Their goal was to set the Portuguese wooden hulls ablaze while they were anchored in the narrow channel.
• War Elephants as "Tanks": In the final stages of the defense, Sultan Mahmud and Prince Ahmad personally led a charge of war elephants through the streets of Melaka. The elephants were used to break the disciplined ranks of Portuguese pikemen, though the tactic eventually failed when the Portuguese discovered that stabbing an elephant's trunk or eyes caused it to turn and trample its own troops.

3. The Role of the "Orang Laut"

The secret weapon of the Sultanate was the Orang Laut (Sea People). Their tactics were the "eyes and ears" of the navy:

• Intelligence and Reconnaissance: They lived on boats and knew every sandbar, reef, and hidden current. They tracked enemy fleets weeks before they reached Melaka, giving the Sultan time to prepare.
• Naval Guerrilla Warfare: In the labyrinth of the Riau-Lingga islands, the Orang Laut would lure larger enemy ships into shallow waters or areas with "hidden" rocks. Once the enemy ship was grounded or trapped by the tide, the Orang Laut would swarm them in small, fast lancarans.

Why did Melaka eventually fall?

Despite these sophisticated tactics, Melaka fell in 1511 due to a combination of internal betrayal (certain merchant factions, including Chinese and Hindu traders, assisted the Portuguese) and the technological gap in heavy, long-range naval artillery. However, the tactics developed by Melaka didn't disappear; they were carried forward by the Sultanate of Johor and Aceh, who continued to challenge Portuguese control for over a century.

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6/1/2026: 12.08 a.m