www.fgks.org   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

Jump to content

Aftercastle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Quuxplusone (talk | contribs) at 18:24, 2 August 2023 (rv anon vandalism https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aftercastle&diff=952690799&oldid=921130692). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.

(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Aftercastle of the frigate Méduse, as seen from the deck
Galleon showing both a forecastle (left) and aftercastle (right)
Stern of a replica 17th-century galleon

The aftercastle[pronunciation?] (or sterncastle, sometimes aftcastle) is the stern structure behind the mizzenmast and above the transom on large sailing ships, such as carracks, caravels, galleons and galleasses.[1] It usually houses the captain's cabin and perhaps additional cabins and is crowned by the poop deck, which on men-of-war provided a heightened platform from which to fire upon other ships; it was also a place of defence in the event of boarding. More common, but much smaller, is the forecastle.

As sailing ships evolved, the aftercastle gave way to the quarterdeck, whose span ran all the way to the main mast.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Castle ship part". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 January 2017.