• MuhammadJesusGaySex@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      So there is more wooden ship under the water. That’s where the engine and coal and stuff is. So, you have a wooden ship made using civil war technology, with people inside under the water. With iron plates fixed to the exposed part of the hull.

      I’m sure it was safe enough, but just the idea seems less than ideal.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        “safe enough” is relative. they weren’t properly sea-going vessels; they could only handle relatively calm coastal waters. bad weather or just open water would prove problematic. that said, it being lower gave it better protection from threats. They were used to defend harbors, though, so it wasn’t necessary for them to be sea worthy.

    • theodewere@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      once you are in range of its 15 inch guns, all you can see is a pair of small, fortified towers flashing at you… it would have been mostly a deterrent, just like any fortification…