Caravel The distinct deck arrangement of the Caravel makes it one of the most recognizible ship profiles in the world. Used almost exclusively by Spanish and Portuguese explorers, almost all the great discoveries of 15-16 centuries were made using Caravels. Caravels are best utilized in carrying heavy loads, and as such, its performance as a warship has never been significant. Though the Caravel can mount a large number of cannons, the aging design fares poorly against more modern ships