Swallow's nest (shipbuilding)

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In shipbuilding, a swallow's nest is a balcony-like extension on the hull , on the side or on the top of high structures or on the side walls . Such an extension forms a side platform, for example for guns , tracking devices or even for dinghies . In order not to endanger the stability of the ship, swallow nests are usually attached on both sides to port and starboard .

The first swallow nests appeared on ironclad ships in the 1860s and 1870s. They are still in use today.

advantages

Example of a modern swallow's nest on the Japanese helicopter carrier Hyūga (starboard side)

Swallow nests serve to increase the usable deck area without having to enlarge the hull of the ship. They are used to increase the sweep angle of the guns or devices or to avoid interference with other deck structures (especially with rigged ships ).

disadvantage

If the installation is too deep or in high seas, swallow nests threaten to hit the waves, which can lead to strong vibrations and loss of speed. Swallow nests are not used to lift the ship.

  • The main artillery of the US gun cruiser USS Newark (C-1) was housed in swallow nests

  • On-board view of a Newark ship's gun in Swallow's Nest

literature

  • Maritime dictionary. Compiled by Jürgen Gebauer and Egon Krenz. Military Publishing House of the German Democratic Republic, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-327-00679-2 , pp. 208–209.