afterdeck
File:ship diagram-numbers.svg; 2: Stern; 3: Propeller and Rudder; 4: Portside (the right side is known as starboard); 5: Anchor; 6: Bulbous bow; 7: Bow; 8: Deck; 9: Superstructure ]]
In naval architecture, an afterdeck or after deck, or sometimes the aftdeck, aft deck or a-deck is the open deck area toward the stern or aft back part of a ship or boat. The afterdeck can be used for a number of different purposes, yet not all ships have an afterdeck. In place of the afterdeck, a ship may be built with a poop deck, that is a deck that forms the roof of a cabin built in the rear, or "aft", part of the superstructure of a ship; a poop deck is usually higher up than an afterdeck. A ship may have its superstructure or aftercastle located in the stern and thus not have an afterdeck. The stern and afterdeck of a ship are usually more smooth and stable than the bow (front) of the ship in motion.
A taffrail is the handrail around the open afterdeck or poop deck. On wooden sailing ships like man-of-war or East Indiaman the taffrail is usually a hand carved wood rail and often highly decorated.[http://www.gettyimages.com/photos/taffrail?excludenudity=true&sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=taffrail Getty Images, Taffrail Pictures and Images]
[http://phrontistery.info/nautical.html http://phrontistery.info, Nautical Terms]Yachting, Dec. 2006 issue, page 94[https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Team-Ships/PEO-Ships/LPD-17/ US Navy, LPD 17 Program Summary, Jan. 2017]
Afterdeck uses
- Navy war ships may use the afterdeck to mount deck guns.
- Missile boats may have missiles launching on the afterdeck.
- Minelaying gear on Navy ship's afterdeck.
- Minesweeper gear on Navy ship's afterdeck.
- Depth charge launching on Navy ship's afterdeck.
- Torpedo tube for torpedo launching on Navy ship's afterdeck.
- Some Navy and private ships use the afterdeck as a helicopter deck for a heliport for helicopters.
- A sundeck for chairs, chaise longue and lounge chairs.
- Rear deck swimming pool with a sundeck.
- On fishing boats a place to lay fishing nets or big-game fishing chairs or trawler gear.
- Cable laying gear.
- Scuba diving deck.
- Amphibious vehicle launching
- Submersible launching
- Water skiing launching
- Samson post, a strong pillar-post for a towing cable or other support.
- Lifting crane or gantry crane.
- Ferry ramp for vehicles.
- Ancient Greece ships sometimes had shrines or altars on the afterdeck.[http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/ships.htm The Greek Age of Bronze Ships]
Gallery
File:HMNZS Canterbury Pacific Partnership.jpg| {{HMNZS|Canterbury|L421|6}} with a large aftdeck for helicopters.
File:Canterbury's Helicopter Afterdeck.jpg| {{HMNZS|Canterbury|L421|6}}'s helicopter afterdeck.
File:Photograph of President Truman and members of his staff relaxing on the after deck of his yacht, the U.S.S.... - NARA - 199029.jpg|President Truman and members of his staff relaxing on the afterdeck of the yacht {{USS|Williamsburg}}.
File:USS Independence LCS-2 at pierce (cropped).jpg|After deck of {{USS|Manchester|LCS-14|6}}.
File:HO3S landing on after deck of USS Manchester (CL-83).jpg|HO3S landing on after deck of {{USS|Manchester|CL-83|6}}.
File:After deck Abeille Bourbon.jpg|After deck of Abeille Bourbon.
File:USS LCS(L) 102.jpg|Sailors on the afterdeck of {{HTMS|Nakha}}.
File:Aft pool golden princess.jpg|Aftdeck pool on Golden Princess.
File:RTOP-21 krma.jpg|Missile boat with missile launching on the after deck.
File:Lifeboat.stern.17-31.arp.jpg|After deck of a UK Rescue Lifeboat 17-31.