VII. Retell the text: “Rudder.” unit 26. Stern

I. Read and translate the following text:

The stern is the rear or aft part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter to the taffrail.

The stern area has always been the location near the steering apparatus (rudder, tiller, ship's wheel, etc), and by extension became the domain of the ship's captain and other officers. In particular, the stern was the location of the officers' quarters, and during the age of sail of the ship, with rows of windows, galleries, walkways, and elaborate decorations. This resulted in a certain amount of vulnerability, and the goal of much maneuvering in battle was to achieve the stern rake, in which a ship would pour its entire broadside into the stern.

Other features of the stern included lanterns and the ensign.

Fig. 30. Some types of sterns

Several types of sterns exist. These include:

• straight sterns

• flat sterns

In the early part of the 19th century, the stern of larger ships became gradually more rounded, and with the advent of screw-powered vessels, the stern became the location of the equipment, the officers moving elsewhere, though British ships still contained an Admiral's sternwalk until well into the twentieth century.

Fig. 31. The transom of the Soleil Royal, by Jean Bérain the Elder

In modern cruise ships, the stern is frequently the location of the dining room, so as to provide uninterrupted views of the sea.

In modern warships, particularly cruisers and destroyers, the stern is usually where the helicopter pad is located. The stern tends to be lower set when compared to other parts of the ship, and may contain a large caliber gun mount or missile magazines. Aircraft carriers typically use the deck space in the stern part of the ship for the recovery of incoming aircraft. Aircraft carriers may have aircraft elevators in the stern area to prevent interference of flight operations, which are launched from the bow. For submarines, both fast attack and ballistic missile, the stern is generally the location of the engine room and the motor room, if the submarine has one. If the submarine runs on nuclear power the stern may contain a heat exchanger and other parts associated with a nuclear reactor.

II. Master the Active Vocabulary:

stern – корма

aft part – кормовая часть

sternpost – ахтерштевень

to extend from … to – простираться от … до

taffrail – гакаборт

steering apparatus – рулевое оборудование

tiller – румпель

to domain – владеть

in particular – в частности

vulnerability – восприимчивость, уязвимость

ensign – значок, символ, флаг

screw – powered vessel – судно с ходовым винтом

III. Answer the following questions:

1. What is a stern?

2. What has always been located on the stern?

3. What are the types of a stern?

4. Was the stern the location of the officer’s quarters?

5. What did other features of a stern include?

6. When did the stern of larger ships become more rounded?

7. With the advent of screw – powered vessels, the stern became the location of the equipment, didn’t it?

8. What is the function of the stern in modern cruise ships?