What were the names and purposes of the ships in Vasco da Gama’s first fleet?

Vasco da Gama’s first fleet, which departed from Lisbon in 1497, consisted of four vessels. Their names and purposes were as follows:

• São Gabriel and São Rafael: These were two medium-sized, three-masted sailing ships, each of approximately 120 tons. They served as the primary vessels for the expedition.1
• Berrio: A 50-ton caravel used for exploration and transport.1
• Storeship: A 200-ton vessel intended to carry supplies for the voyage. It was broken up by da Gama’s order in November 1497 after the fleet reached Mossel Bay in modern South Africa.1

In addition to these ships, the fleet carried padrões (stone pillars) to be erected as marks of discovery to prove the expedition had reached specific locations, including Mozambique and Calicut, India.21