A wider bow could shield Icebreaker's side paddles in heavy ice, but the exposed arrangement serves other needs. The side paddles mainly provide manoeuvrability, while the stern paddle supplies speed. They can be raised or lowered for maintenance, and the fictional ship carries repair facilities. The arrangement sacrifices some icebreaking efficiency for ocean handling and access to damaged machinery. Its acceptability depends partly on being able to repair the paddles aboard.
Notable Point · 6:38-8:05
Paddle battleship: icebreaking, manoeuvre, and repair
A paddle-wheel icebreaker battleship becomes a design exercise in balancing icebreaking efficiency against manoeuvrability, access for repairs, and ocean-going usefulness.