sponson

A sponson is a projection extending from the side of a ship or boat, typically mounted on the hull. Historically, sponsons were used on warships to provide a platform for guns, allowing them to fire at a wider arc or to protect the gun crews from enemy fire. In modern naval architecture, sponsons can serve various purposes, including increasing stability, providing buoyancy, or housing equipment like retractable sonar arrays. On smaller vessels, sponsons can also be added to enhance stability or to create extra deck space. They can be integrated into the hull design or added as external structures. The design and placement of sponsons vary significantly depending on the vessel's intended use and size.