By the late 1700s, hulls were "copper-bottomed." This involved nailing thin sheets of copper over the wood to prevent the growth of barnacles and the destructive Teredo navalis (shipworm), which could otherwise eat through a hull in months. Structural Innovation: The Diagonal Truss
Often used in the British East Indies for its extreme durability and natural oils, making it almost impervious to wood-boring worms. Wooden Warship Construction: A History in Ship ...
The evolution of wooden warships is a saga of engineering mastery, where the limitations of organic materials met the brutal demands of naval warfare. From the sleek galleys of antiquity to the towering "wooden walls" of the 19th century, the history of ship construction is a testament to human ingenuity. The Foundation: Selection of Timber By the late 1700s, hulls were "copper-bottomed