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A related oddity - according to "Navies of the Napoleonic Era", Turkish ships had higher decks than was normal for other navies allegedly to allow for elaborate
by tragomaskhalos 5y ago
A related oddity - according to "Navies of the Napoleonic Era", Turkish ships had higher decks than was normal for other navies allegedly to allow for elaborate headgear, even though this actually compromised the stability of the ships.
- handrous 5y agoIs that a hold-over from Byzantium/Eastern-Roman-Empire, kept after the Turkish conquest? They were all about elaborate hierarchies of ranks and titles, often expressed through big hats or helmets.
- fourtrees 5y agoNeat idea, but I'd bet it was a completely native decision, maybe forced on some poor naval architect by a grandee who didn't understand the implications of the order. Then again, there's no proof one way or another.
- mcswell 5y agoIf you're shooting, or dumping burning oil on your enemy, or even throwing rocks at them, being a bit higher than they are is a significant advantage, if for no other reason than the fact that you can see them better than they can see you. It's like the high ground in land battles.
- tragomaskhalos 5y agoThis is in Napoleonic times, where naval warfare relied on broadsides of cannons. Stability is a far more important factor here. Also note that 4-decker ships, with a nominal advantage in firepower, were employed by the Spanish but eschewed by the Royal Navy for the same reason.