Pluton was laid down in August 1803, launched in January 1805, and completed in March 1805. Revenge had been laid down in 1800 and was launched in 1805, despite Britain's continuing wartime demand for ships. The longer construction period allowed timber to settle as the hull grew, beyond the seasoning completed before the wood was fitted. Steam-bent wood needed time to adjust to its new shape. Building too quickly could leave strains that affected handling, structural durability, and the ship's useful life. A warship that entered service promptly could still carry problems that only became apparent later.
Notable Point · 29:05-30:14
Why Revenge took years longer to build than Pluton
Pluton and Revenge illustrate the tradeoff between rapid delivery and allowing shaped timber to settle during construction.