BEAMS

The BEAMS of ships of war are usually formed of three pieces scarsed together; as appears in plate III. They are sustained at each end by thick planks in the ship's side, called clamps, upon which they rest. They are also firmly connected to The timbers of the ship by means of strong knees, and sometimes by standards. See MIDSHIP-FRAME.

Plate III

It is necessary that the beams, as represented in the midship-frame, should have a greater heighth in the middle than at the two ends, to carry the water more readily off from the decks, and to diminish the recoil of the guns, which will thereby more easily return into their places.

The longest of these is called the midship-beam; it is lodged in the midship-frame, or between the widest frame of timbers. At about two-thirds of the heighth from the keel to the lower-deck, are laid a range of beams, to fortify the hold, and support a platform called the orlop, which contains the cables and stores of the ship.

There are usually twenty-four beams on the lower deck of a ship of seventy-four guns, and to the other decks additional ones in proportion, as the ship lengthens above.

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