Main deck

The main deck of a ship is the uppermost complete deck extending from bow to stern.[1] A steel ship's hull may be considered a structural beam with the main deck forming the upper flange of a box girder and the keel forming the lower strength member. The main deck may act as a tension member when the ship is supported by a single wave amidships, or as a compression member when the ship is supported between waves forward and aft.[2]

The main deck of USS Wainwright supports the 5"/54 gun aft, but is not the weather deck for the greater length of the forward portion of the ship.


References

  1. Knight, Austin M. (1937). Modern Seamanship (Tenth ed.). New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. p. 31.
  2. Manning, George Charles (1930). Manual of Naval Architecture. New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. pp. 102&103.
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