All Questions
Tagged with engineering ships
17 questions
2
votes
3
answers
186
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Is it possible to design an auto-oar? [closed]
So, I was interested in methods of ship propulsion. In the course of research, I found that before steam engines were a thing sails were best. However, the alternatives are oars and paddle-wheels. I ...
- 2,938
4
votes
3
answers
278
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How could iron-age ships be modified to withstand extreme storms?
Iron-age humans wish to cross an extremely stormy sea -- one that no pre-industrial vessel humans actually built could reasonably survive.
Here is a graphical guide to some hazards
These people don't ...
- 2,329
10
votes
8
answers
5k
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Could Mermaids Tear a Warship's Planking?
I had an idea for a story, where mermaids sabotage a ship during the age of sail. I wanted to ask for advice on it, and if it makes sense. Perspective would be especially helpful, since someone told ...
6
votes
2
answers
572
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Silent Ships: Can we Keep the Mer folk Happy?
Modern ships are loud.
So loud in fact, that it is actively harming ocean life.
Now, this alone is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. However, in my world the issue is compounded due to the ...
- 5,053
15
votes
7
answers
2k
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How many refugees can I pack into a nuclear-powered version of the largest ship ever built?
Countryistan is a large island nation approximately 3,000 kilometers from the nearest landmass.
The government of Countryistan is secretly planning on committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against ...
- 13.2k
6
votes
3
answers
224
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How large can an oceangoing vessel be made within the constraints of Neolithic technology?
Long story short, I have a bunch of folks with Neolithic technology, and they want to build a big ship - preferably, a ship that's as large as they can make it.
How big can these Neolithic folks make ...
- 13.2k
30
votes
12
answers
7k
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In a world where wood is scarce, what are the most important things you need wood for?
In most large civilizations on Earth, wood has been a fairly plentiful resource, so we've used it for all sorts of things: Houses, boats, carts, spears, arrows, bows, shields, barrels, firewood, paper ...
- 1,040
22
votes
7
answers
3k
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What kind of ships would an amphibious species build?
To give a bit of background and ground the question in context:
I'm concerned with the technology level from prehistory to Renaissance, or thereabouts. Analogous to Earth history, the 'normal' land-...
8
votes
8
answers
3k
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What would be the best propulsion system for this aircraft carrier?
So, I was watching a funny movie about undead pirates when the realization hit me, I never once tried to create naval superiority for my Mary Sue. Well, guess I just do it now.
Titanic 2: (n)Ice to ...
- 19.5k
3
votes
2
answers
350
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How high can a Victorian-era kite sail be flown?
A big problem with Steampunk airships is how to propel them. Steam engines tend to be too heavy to be useful. And sails cannot be used, because unlike sea-going ships, airships are in contact with ...
- 4,656
2
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3
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228
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A modern Noah's Ark
This is not a duplicate of Building Noah's Ark or Can We Build Noah's ark?, because the former asks only about a relatively small number of species and the latter is set in Biblical times.
...
- 15k
8
votes
8
answers
861
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What would be a plausible speed for a 22nd century military ship?
No, I am not talking about space ships, I am talking about water-based ships sailing the oceans on planet Earth.
What would be a plausible cruise speed and maximum speed for what would be the ...
- 49.3k
5
votes
5
answers
846
views
The practicality and feasibility of a fully-submersible aircraft carrier
There's this organisation with an underwater naval base on Île Pott masquerading as a third rate hotel resort. Said base features several underwater hangars housing a considerable fleet comprised of ...
user48508
24
votes
5
answers
6k
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Advantages/Disadvantages with Large Naval Guns
When it comes to naval guns, bigger isn't always better. The 46cm/18.1" guns on the Yamato-class battleships didn't have much in the way of advantages over the Iowa-class's 40.6/16" guns. Yet the ...
- 11.6k
8
votes
11
answers
3k
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Long Range Big Guns: An extreme bombardment ship
The Schwerer Gustav is one of the largest guns ever used - by many measurements, it is the largest. But it lacks range. It was, however, designed to be an extreme bunker buster, a job which it could ...
- 11.6k