Page 129 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

Ship Construction

Ship designers try to buiJd as many good features as possible into EI/(jllmllce is the Illaximulll time a ship can steam at a given
their ships while keeping in mind their intended missions. All ships speed. It depends on fuel capacity, freshwater capacity, fuel con-
are the result of compromise; not every desired feature can be built sllmption, and storage space and refrigeration for food provisions.
into every ship. Nevertheless, all ships have certain essential quali- [viost oil-powered ships Ci.ll1 steal11 for one to two weeks without
ties. This chapter will highlight these characteristics and will dis- refueling, while nuclear-powered ships can steam for years. Fresh
cuss the fundamentals of ship construction and the nautical terms provisions need to be replenished about every thirt)' days, but dry
Llsed to describe ships. stores (including canned foods) may be kept much longer. Another
term sometimes used for endurance is [l"IIisillg rfllige.
Habital'ilit)' refers to the features designed to provide com-
Princip les of Ship Construction fortable living conditions for the crew. Adequate heads (lavatories)

The major factors considered in the construction of any naval ship and washrooms; laundries; air conditioning; and comfortable, safe,
are mission, armament, protection, seaworthiness, maneuverabil- and cleiln berthing and messing spaces are important habitability
ity, speed, endurance, and habitability. feahlres.
The lIIi5Sioll, or main purpose, of a ship is the biggest consider-
ation in its design. The weapons systems, speed, crew size. and almost
Nautical Terms
everything else are dependent on the ship's intended missioll.
The nrtlllllllellt consists of all the offensive weapons used to J n civilian life you become accllstomed to using terms like upstairs,
fight an enemy on or under the sea and in the air. Generally, we downstairs. windows, floors, ceilings, walls, hallways, and so forth.
think of armament as being guns. torpedoes, missiles, and so forth. In the Navy, you must learn to describe objects and places aboard
However the term also includes aircraft llsed for offensive pur- a ship using n<luticallanguage. To lise civilian terms aboard a ship
poses (an extension of the ship's attacking capability) and hll1ding marks YOli as i\ I(//uf/llbbcr, one who knows nothing of the sea.
craft used for amphibious operations. In some Wil),S, a ship is like a building. lis outer walls form the
Protection means defensive features that help a ship survive hllll, the supporting bod)' of a ship. floors are called decks. inner
enemy attack. In addition to its weapons, a ship's sturdy construc- walls are called blllkhenris or partitions, ceilings are termed over-
tion, armor, and compartmentatiol1 to limit the spread of flooding heads, and hallways are pnssagewn),s. Stairs are called Indders; an
make up its protective features. nccol1ll1lodatioll ladder is the stairs from the ship to a pier, and a
Sen\\,orthiness describes the ship's ability to operate in all kinds jnwb's laelrier is a portable ladder made of rope or metal used to
of weather, high winds, and heavy se;.lS. Stability, size, ilnd fi-ce- climb lip the side of a ship. The qllarterdeck might be compared to
board (the hull space between the waterline and the main deck) an entrance hall or foyer ill a building.
determine a ship's seaworthiness. Stnbility refers to the way tl ship The lengthwise direction 011 a ship is fore and nft; crosswise is
returns to an upright position after a roll in heavy seas. Stability ntlllvnrtships. The front of il ship is the boll'; to go in that direc-
also affects the value of a ship as a weapons or aircraft platform. tion is to go forward. The back of the ship is the stem; to go in that
JVfnllellvembility means the way a ship handles in turns, in direction is to go afro The maximum width of the ship is the beam;
backing down, in going alongside another ship, or in evading locations oft' to the side are abenlll. Locations behind the be;'lI11 are
enemy weapons. Combat,mts such as carriers and destroyers must abnft. Rehind the ship, in the water, is nstel"ll. The torward part of
be able to change course and speed rapidly. the main deck is the forecastle (pronounced foc'sle), and the back
Speed is affected by the weight (displacement) of the ship, its part is the jill/lnil.
underwater shape. iHld the power of its propulsion plant. Speed A ship is divided lengthwise in halfby the cellfer/ille. Everything
gets a ship to the scene of action quickly ;.md enables it to outma- to the right of the centerline is to s(nrIJOard, and ever}'thing to the
neuver an enemy. len is to port. The direction from the centerline toward either side
is outboard, ;.U1d from either side toward the centerline is illiwnrd.

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