The Athenians had a maritime empire built on oared ships. Warships were oared sailing galleys with three to five banks of oarsmen. The French were left with only six galleys, which they supplemented with 22 oared barges. The design of the earliest oared vessels is mostly unknown and highly conjectural. The Joseon fleet consisted of 82 "panokseon" multi-decked oared ships. These appear to have been mostly sailing vessels, rather than oared. A bireme is an ancient oared warship (galley) with two decks of oars.