What's your favorite "wartime expedient" example?

[OpanaPointer]

The USN, after the Civil War, parked a serious number* of almost new "black ships" in estuaries along the Mississippi River and left them to rot. A cottage industry developed where people would dive on the ships after they had sunk and collect the iron fittings for resale. Peace was fatal for the ships made in a rush, without the benefit of aged timber.

*I have the number somewhere, but it's not vital.