Chapter 2-SHIP DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 



147.20 

 Figure 2-16.— Relationship of stem assembly to 

 keel. 



Plating 



The outer bottom and side plating forms a 

 strong, watertight shell. Shellplating consists of 

 approximately rectangular steel plates arranged 

 longitudinally in rows or courses called strakes . 

 The strakes are lettered, beginning with the A 

 strake (also called the garboard strake ) which 

 is just outboard of the keel and working up to 

 the uppermost side strake (called the sheer 

 strake ). 



The end joint formed by adjoining plates in a 

 strake is called a butt . The joint between the 

 edges of adjoining strakes is called a seam. 

 Butts and seams in side plating are illustrated 

 in figure 2-18. 



Since the hull structure is composed of a 

 great many individual pieces, the strength and 

 tightness of the ship as a whole depend very 

 much upon the strength and tightness of the 

 connections between the individual pieces. In 

 modern naval ships, welded joints are used to a 



DECK PLATING 



147.21 



Figure 2-17.— Stern structure. 

 23 



