TIL cotton was used as boat armor in the American Civil War.
4d 2h ago by lemmy.ca/u/Quilotoa in til from www.amusingplanet.com
It was used in the Battle of New Orleans as well, the War of 1812, on land the US militias sheltered behind large cotton Bales while firing.
It was also used as splinter padding by the Japanese navy, in the form of rolled-up hammocks, shown here at the battle of Tsushima:
They continued using hammocks this way well into WW2, although I don't understand how the increased risk of fire wasn't a problem.
Cottonclads were not effective
Ol Cottonside made for a great luxury steamer after the war though.
The trabant used cotton impregnated with phenolic resin for the exterior body panels.
[off topic]
Look up 'The Civil War At Sea' novels by David Poyer.