These lighter woods were reserved for masts and yards, as their flexibility allowed them to bend under high winds without snapping. The Skeleton: Ribs and Keel
The mid-19th century marked the end of the era. The introduction of explosive shells made wooden hulls vulnerable to fire and catastrophic failure. While "Ironclads" initially used wood as a backing for iron plates, the rise of all-steel hulls eventually relegated wooden warship construction to the annals of history. Wooden Warship Construction: A History in Ship ...
The preferred choice for the hull due to its density and natural resistance to rot. "Compass timber"—naturally curved branches—was highly prized for the ship’s "knees" (the L-shaped brackets supporting the decks). These lighter woods were reserved for masts and