The Kelly's (British J,K & N Class Destroyers of WW2) by Christopher Langtree
Pg166
Van Galen had noticed problems with her rudder and put into Exmouth Bay on January 2nd ('43), to have it examined. Surprisingly, it was found that during her short period of service her plating had rusted away exposing the wood filling, a great deal of which had disappeared, leaving just the frame and nothing filling gaps
Well for whatever reason I had assumed, wrongly it seems, that rudders on warships (WW1&2) would be all metal and that there would be no wood involved.
So my question is this-Does anyone know if this was common practice to have a wooden filling in the general construction of warship rudders? or was this specific to the RN or a few other navies?
As an aside was the Bismarcks rudder of the same construction when it was damaged?
Regards
Andy H