I have 10 books devoted to naval warfare in the Renaissance period. Of these, the must enlightening I'd consider to be Gunpowder and Galleys: Changing technologies and Mediterranean Warfare at Sea in the 16th Century by John Francis Guilmartin, Jr.

Gunpowder and Galleys is one of the many Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History, so particularly useful to the wargamer who does not have the wherewithal to do his own research, much less know where to start.

Like the battleship in WWII, the galley constituted the capital ship of the Mediterranean warfare. Guilmartin brings out through careful analysis of campaigns and battles , Renaissance economics and technology, factors such as social, economic, geographic and climatic that the galley itself was a specialized weapon, reaching its state of the art, so to speak, in the late 1580's and was more than a match for the early sailing ships if in its own element.

The limitations and capabilities of the galley imposed a short campaigning season in which the galley was not exposed to the storms of late fall and winter. The limited cargo space and locomoting power by human muscle, aggravated by an ever increasing gun size and decreasing crew availability (most crews were freemen), continually decreased the operating radius of the galley and made for campaigns restricted In scope and less likely to be strategic, ly decisive. It further analyzes the differences between the various ships and how they fitted the manpower needs and tactical training of the various key naval powers in this period.

For those schooled in Mahen and supremacy of the sea, many naval battles and campaigns such an Lepanto (1571) and the siege Malta (1565) might seen inexplicable. Guilmartin suggests that the limited radius of the galley forced the major Christian and Moslem powers into bizarre minuets, where skilled admirals and captains recognizing the limitations of the short campaign season could force their opponents to fruitlessly maneauver and leave the area without accomplishing anything. Destruction of the opposing flee in itself could and would not be decisive, only the capture of outposts and major bases from which one could base a fleet for further raids and invasions. For major powers could, o the need require, produce in a short period of time several score of galleys and their support elements. This is not to say that the loss of trained crews and experienced captains would not be crippling. In fact, he suggests the losses of Spain off Djerba 1560 due to storms forced Philip II to remain inactive until 1565. When Suleiman so freely expended his crews in the siege of Malta. Also helpful to the wargamer are the appendices devoted to the armaments of the ships and men, costs of maintaining a galley, speed of ships and rankings of a Spanish-creved ship. 

NAVAL SCENARIO

Lepanto (use Avalon Hill's Trireme). This is a hypothetical battle between the Ottoman Turks and their usual opponents, the Venetians and the Hapsburg Empire. Lepanto as a strategic harbor and the scnee of more than its share of battles.

The year is 1540 A.D.

Forces
Ottomans 40 Galleys (Triremes), 2 Bergantines (Biremes)
Venetians 4 Galleys (Triremes)
Spanish 8 Galleys (Triremes)

Special Rules

1. If the Venetians lose a vessel, they must roll a 1 or 2 on a six-sided die to continue the battle. This represents the lack of desire on the Venetians to do battle, particularly, if it would benefit their adversaries, the Spanish.

2. Treat everything its open sea.

3. Start the vessels no closer than 10 squares away, facing-each other. Allies set up first.

Note

The scenario is kept on the simple side to allow interested parties to determine for themselves whether this is a period they vat be interested in investing time and money.