HMAS Perth II Conical Wooden Plug

Using a plug was the simplest method of repairing a hole on a ship. Plugs made of soft wood have been found rather effective under battle conditions with every ship should have a large assortment of conical, square-ended and wedge-shaped wooden plugs at each repair station. The plugs were not be painted, for unpainted soft wood absorbs water and holds better. Plugs were stowed in canvas bags secured to the overhead. Plugs were wrapped in lightweight cloth before inserting. The cloth will tend to keep the plugs in place, and also will fill some of the gaps between plugs. In most cases wooden plugs will not make a watertight fit, but by calking the remaining leaky area with rags, oakum and smaller wedges, the ingress of water can be greatly reduced.