Bulwark
The bulwark , also bulwark or entrenchment , is a complete or partially built-in continuation of the ship's side above the upper deck of a ship and can have been made of different materials. In the age of sailing warships, it had a tactical protective function in combat with other ships as well as a protective function against waves and wind and is therefore still to be found on civil and military ships today.
definition
In 18th century literature, bulwark is defined as follows:
“ Bulwark - this is the name of a strip of canvas drawn around the warship by means of erect wood. It serves partly to hold off the little bullets, and partly to hide what is going on on the deck. The mast baskets are also moved with it for some in battle. The nations have their special colors for their bulwarks. The French blue with yellow lilies, the Dutch red, etc. "
Another definition of 19th century bulwark is:
“ Bulwark, a garment of colored cloth about 4 feet wide on the outer side of the rule supports, etc. the fin nets on the deck railing on a warship; it serves as an ornament & at the same time in battle for the marines posted here as a glare. Similar clothing is hung around the edge of the great masthead (Mars); 2) the wooden casing of the rule rings, which, especially for us merchant ships, consists of several flaps that hang on hinges like the gate hatches on the rule rings and the like. opened from bottom to top u. if necessary, it can also be lifted completely. "
A modern definition is the bulwark of a ship of
" An extension of the outer skin above the upper deck to protect the sailors working on the upper deck against marine hazards "
out.
In this respect, the bulwark is a special form of the otherwise open railing . Like the railing, it not only has the function of a parapet (fall protection), but its main task at the bow is to repel water that comes over in rough seas. In the case of ships that do not have a closed deck due to their design, this is important for safety, e.g. B. capsize stability, required, for example in open-top container ships . For sea state model tests in shipbuilding research institutes , it is a standard part of the test program to measure how much water reaches the deck per unit of time in order to check whether the bulwark at the bow is high enough and extends far enough to the rear. Bulwark can with scuppers be provided to derive about Come water. Another task of the bulwark is to absorb tensions that arise from the bending of the trunk.
In a broader sense, bulwark is also understood to mean a sail-covered railing of seaworthy yachts .
As Schanz also is back deck of warships referred. The expression is derived from the aft fort of the carracks . These were massive deckhouses that enabled the crew and passengers to "hide" in them in the event of an attack.
Evidence / Notes
literature
- Georg Dietrich von der Groeben : Explanations on understanding shipping and naval warfare according to alphabetical order , published in 1774, Breßlau. Reprint of the original edition: Neufahrn / Percha 1984, ISBN 3-88706-235-3 .
- Pierer's Lexicon. 1857-1865.
- Otto Lueger, Lexicon of all technology and its auxiliary sciences, 2nd edition, Deutsche Verlagsanstalt, Stuttgart and Leipzig 1904–1920.