forecastle

naval architecture

Learn about this topic in these articles:

In castle
The forecastle and aftercastle (or sterncastle) are at the bow and stern of the vessel. A top castle was perched on masts of some ships about the 13th century. The first known castles are shown amidships or astern on Roman ships, to afford vantage points in…
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In ship: Early oceanic navigation
…expeditions the value of the forecastle and aftercastle—giving enclosed deck houses and a bulging bow of great capacity—was learned, and this style became the basis of the English oceangoing trader. These crusading voyages also introduced the English to journeys longer than the coasting and North Sea navigation they had previously…
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