Q&A ยท 2:13:37-2:14:18

Planning a warship's service life

At least by the seventeenth century, with modern overage terminology associated with the nineteenth.

Question

When did expected design life become a factor in naval ship design?

Short answer

At least by the seventeenth century, with modern overage terminology associated with the nineteenth.

Notes

Expected service life is placed among naval design considerations by at least the seventeenth century. The underlying question was how long a ship should remain useful to the navy. Modern language about ships becoming overage is associated with the nineteenth century. No single initiating event is identified.