Hi Ross, picture of Broken chain. The links are about 3mm across. It was a lot stronger than a more scale like chain and this was all I had. Testing it for strength was not going to help.

Roy

Hi Pat it is no good you trying to baffle me with science! I am a thicko with a few nautical bits stuck on.😂😂
Roy

Hi Ross, I asked myself the same question.

Hi Roy, thanks for this information.
Over time, this forum (and partly the "question of the day") has inspired me to search for the exact English terms for nautical elements.
Since the usual translators were completely inadequate (imagine that the term "deck" for us is "ponte," but "ponte" in Italian also means bridge; another example: "mast" we translate as "albero," but "albero" also means "tree." Imagine if I wrote the tree on the bridge, it broke) and even the Italian-English nautical dictionaries weren't always helpful, I resorted to images and drawings.
If I see a drawing of the complete sail system with captions in English, everything is simpler and certainly unmistakable.
The problem is remembering it because there are so many specific nautical terms, but I'm slowly getting there.
It helps that I know the rigging and sails of boats and ships very well. There's certainly a big difference between a simple sloop and a full-rigged ship.
The English terminology that differentiates between "manovre fisse" standing rigging and "manovre correnti" running rigging was one of the first things I learned, along with sheets and shrouds, but thanks for reminding me anyway.
As the ancient Romans said: "repetita juvant."

Roy
On a square rigger both sheets and tacks control square sails sheet got from the clue of the sail aft where as tacks go from the windward lower corner of the sail forward hence the name tack.

That’s one I got wrong last time

Pook🐱☹️🤕

😎

Roy

I have to ask. What are you using for chain, that it snaps?

Ross

Hi Aless... The fixed rigging is called the 'Standing' rigging and the rest is mostly 'Running' rigging. The ropes to control the angle of the sails are mainly called 'sheets' and these days have colour coding interwoven into the rope to help identify them.

Halyards are the ropes that haul up or put items in position. Could be flags or sails being hauled into position as in fore and aft sails.
Then there are clewlines buntlines and leechlines and footropes.

Ropes are measured in 'size' by their diameter so a 1 inch rope is about 0.3 inches thick.

It goes on......Any more contributions are welcome.

The bowsprit takes a lot of pressure and often has a chain from the tip going down to a low part of the bow. The forestay goes from the end of the bowsprit to the foremast.
On my sqaresail sailboat if the wind gets excessive the chain snaps, which it is at the moment awaiting repair!

Roy

From the description in the question, I understand (except for the last part, which is still a mystery) that they were referring to a fixed rigging we call a "strallo".
From my research, the closest thing to our term is the answer I gave.

My answer was a stab in the dark as what I know about sailing ships could be written on the back of a postage stamp, so I'll have to admit to luck on this occasion.

Oh no another one wrong again. Was doing great at 100% now I dropped to 80%. Learning a lot and will have to keep with correct answers and wait a month or two. Anyway lots of fun😊👍😬

BOWSPRIT GUYS are to the SIDES of the bowsprit to prevent the bowsprit side to side movement.
The BOBSTAY is the line that attaches from the bowsprit to the keel, to prevent the bowsprit from being pulled up and back from the force of the forestay
The BOBSTAY could be said to be preventing the foremast from shifting aft by supporting the forestay, but BOBSTAY wasn't a choice.

The answer given as correct FOREMAST STAYS would include FORE STAY, FORE TOPGALLANT STAY and BACK STAY. A bit misleading. . .

Understanding 19th-Century Ship Rigging
The correct answer is B. Backstays. In the context of 19th-century full-rigged ships, backstays were the component of the standing rigging primarily responsible for preventing the foremast from moving aft under the strain of the headsails and fore-topgallant staysail. Backstays are ropes or wires that run from the mast to the stern of the ship, counteracting the forward pull of the staysails and preventing the mast from being pushed backwards.

We talked about this sail for a long time, because I wanted to know its English name. Only Jumpugly answered correctly. Later, Pat confirmed this term with her very interesting questions and answers.
Then at least one AI question about this sail appeared in the "question of the day" section.
I realized that the naming of English sails depends greatly on their function and position.
Perhaps it would be helpful to answer today's question correctly to think about the other name you give to the Spanker sail.

Note the longest answer was wrong!
Roy

Definitely remember this question not long ago, unfortunately I couldn’t remember the answer! Took a guess and got it right.

I have dropped a few lately but wright today😁 got a way to go to clear a red mark
Philuk👍

I think we have had this before but I couldn't remember the answer. Maybe I should have Googled it 😁

It's true, Steve, it was a unique story that also says a lot about human nature.
A highly metaphorical and symbolic painting was also made of it.
There are also paintings and engravings of the Mary Celeste, but there's no comparison.
Géricault's painting is still in every high school art book.

Ok, Alessandro about the Medusa raft. I had to do research on that...
150 people set adrift on a makeshift raft and after 13 days of cannibalism, murder and some weaker people being thrown overboard, they were then rescued. But only 15.😐😣.

This makes the Mary Celeste a mystery but a much less disaster.

Same here, the question went right over my head, so I resorted to the longest answer. Turned out to be a good choice!

I'd like to say I understood the question and answer, but at I don't I used my universal which answer is the longest system.

Jump, took a look at Dumas site, great but they don’t ship to the UK. Really a pity.
Ed😭

And for what it's worth, Dumas is running their usual "holiday" exclusives. Always a fun look as sometimes they surprise you with a a bargain...sometimes.
👍

https://www.dumasproducts.com/

Starring Bela Lugosi...

Yes, Steve-S, the story of the Mary Celeste is the one that struck me the most when I first read it as a young man.
In some ways, it's also the one that impressed me the most and made me think only after the tragic story of the Meduse raft.

I agree Last In First Out. although now it is FIGF (first in gone forever). I find I start writing something and then all the words I expected to use go away and hide!

Roy

Roy,
"I am running out of brain area to take in new facts and I may have to forget something to make space!"
I know the feeling🙄
Curiously, rather than the FIFO system used by computer systems as we get older our brains start to work on a LIFO system🤔
Cheers, Doug😎

Hi Stephen,
Re the submarine question of 4th December-
Despite various complaints please do not change anything.
Answer C was correct, see my post to Roy.
The question simply needs to be read and interpreted correctly.
Admittedly some knowledge of Naval Operational Requirements and Operational Areas helps😉
Cheers, Doug😎

Hi Doug fortunately I gave up smoking a long while ago!😊

The 'hundreds' was a quote from Wikipedia.
My initial doubts about Stirling powered subs was based on production stopped just over 10 years ago but after further digging was actually because of the payment conditions. Resolved a while later.

However, I accept that I was wrong, but happy the Stirling engine is used for subs. The Scotsman associated with its design may not be so happy to know that it is used as a weapon. Difficult to differentiate a method of keeping the peace from a means of active defence.

We have several model Stirling engines in our Model engineering club and many years ago we had a display for models which rotated around and driven by a hot air engine.
Many years ago one of our members designed a hot air engine entirely made from old storage discs and powered by a light bulb, it was displayed at a Model engineering exhibition maybe 25 years ago and because it was bright and shiny and moved it attracted much attention.

I am running out of brain area to take in new facts and I may have to forget something to make space!😁😁😁
Roy

BTW Roy,
Re your post #5207 "Can't see the Americans abandoning Nuclear subs in favour of these."
You forget the Operational Requirement!
Sweden has no desire to play World Policeman like the USA.
Their main requirement is defence against the Russian Baltic Fleet not world cruises with a nuclear deterrent.
Cheers, Doug😎

Hi Roy,
Scarcely hundreds!
I make it around 130, although it is highly questionable how many of the Russian subs are actually operational.🙄

Re Swedish subs-
Actually their diesel electric Gotland class (3 boats) has been happily operating Stirling Motors for nearly 30 years. The successor is already being built, 2 for Sweden and 3 for Poland, also using Stirling Motors from the Kockums yard.
Sure they are not going to win any speed competitions running on the Stirlings alone. But that's not the point.😉
When submerged the Gotlands can make 20 knots running the electric motors off batteries. Or tootle around at 5 to 6 knots on the Stirling motors driving a 75kW generator.
Alternately the Stirlings are used to recharge the batteries without the need to surface. Thus 'EXTENDING' the underwater endurance from a few days to a few weeks. And that is the key to this question!!
It asks about 'EXTENDED' operation NOT unlimited as per nuclear power.
Nuclear powered propulsion has never been designated AIP as it has never been dependent on air in the first place.
As for as acoustic stealth goes, the weak point of nuclear systems has always been the pumps in the essential cooling water circulation.
Sorry Roy but no cigar this time😉
Cheers, Doug😎

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland-class_submarine

There are several hundred nuclear subs in the world, USA 66 and Russia 30 China 12. Of course if Russia does decide to attack Europe, non-political hot air may save us all yet!
The UK has survived over 2000 Russian incursions and attacks over the last year or so. The threat is there, if it happens they will run out of people to fight and money, as I doubt China will support them as their war is an Industrial one. They need American and European infra structure intact as countries that buy Chinese goods. Russia has only gas and oil and much of that is sanctioned.

It is an interesting scenario but rather dangerous. Oops sorry about the political side!
Roy

The heat source is diesel fuel and liquid oxygen. That seems neither one thing or the other. If they travel much distance from home port they could run out of LOX. They really only work in home waters.
Can't see the Americans abandoning Nuclear subs in favour of these.
Roy

I was one of them that chose the Sterling Engine because I thought there were to few nuclear subs and way more normal subs, plus it was a way too easy and obvious answer. However after I got it right. I was surprised, so I did some research and came across this.
https://www.saab.com/newsroom/stories/2015/march/the-secret-to-the-worlds-most-silent-submarine

Hi Fireboat yesterday's answer was'problematic', apparently their are 6 newly commissioned boats. They are for use in the seas around Europe, with 2 more expected around 2031.
Roy

I also picked the wrong answer with the submarine question along with 23 others 😂😂. Only 10 clever members got it correct..👍.
I was quite sure that we have had this question before and the answer was Nuclear??. 🤔🤔😕.

Today's 5th December question was one that took a full TV documentary to try to explain with no final conclusions. This I remembered from when I was very young 🎂🍦
, and it's a mystery that's stuck in my mind ever since 😊..

Thank you guys - I answered D, and was very surprised to be told I was wrong. Nuclear is almost totally silent, except for some of the attachments, but any engine will have a sound profile that modern acoustics can pick up.

I agree with Ron. And how in Heavens name (being polite) do you run a Stirling cycle engine in a submarine? What heat source?

I chose answer D which is correct. Sorry but the answer to the question should be changed to D not C🤔😬😬

I have been thinking about the longest number of words being the answer. It seems AI thinks the same (7 letters) but the clearly right answer is D with only 6 letters. But then is AI trying to set a trap with a double bluff?

Roy

Well I went for answer D as I asumed it would be the most obvious in this day and age in modern submarines also, while maintaining minimal acoustic signature and avoiding the need for frequent snorkelling.
And I got it wrong!!??.

I have since Googled the question, which I wouldn't normally do. and Google says that this is the correct answer. And why. Google A.I. also says answer D is correct. So why did we get it wrong?????????
Our answers should be corrected.

This is Google's Answer,

The correct option is D. Nuclear propulsion using pressurised water reactors.
Explanation
Nuclear propulsion provides virtually unlimited submerged endurance, limited only by crew provisions, because the reactor does not require access to atmospheric oxygen for power generation.
Submarines with nuclear propulsion can operate for months without surfacing or snorkeling, which is a critical aspect of maintaining stealth by avoiding visual or radar detection at the surface.
While air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems (Option C) also enhance submerged endurance for non-nuclear submarines, they typically only extend it to a few weeks, not the practically unlimited duration of nuclear power.

I read somewhere that Nuclear subs used the spare heat from the reactor to power auxiliary generators, which were Stirling engines. No exhaust no pollution and safe.
Roy

How do you produce enough heat for a Stirling engine underwater? Really didn't understand why that's the answer

Oh dear! Where does AI get the answers from? One of the Scandanavian countries experimented with Stirling engines in submarines and then gave up as they did not have enough power.

For local water very quiet subs the diesel one has proved to be an excellent alternative to Nuclear propulsion.

I think the question needs setting up again.
Roy

The answer is wrong as it did not non nucular subs, only non nucucar subs use
air propolsion🤔
Philuk👍

Hi, Boatshed, I also do the same and seal as many of the bow compartments as I can, but just in case there's a leak 😩, I fill them as much as possible with lightweight polystyrene.😊. Should make the boats bomb proof/unsinkable 😀,from someone who hasn't read the SOLAS manual 😕😃😣.

On todays question,
I had gone for answer C, as I would do this even on my wooden model boaats,
As I think this makes sense just to be safe.

Well I got that wrong. I read it as, what was the alternative to D2 standard. I knew from last time that D2 was the new standard so the alternative must have been the older water exchange D1. 🙄