Prior to efficient steam-powered pumps, which construction technique increased ship's hull integrity against hydrostatic pressure during deep submergence?

💡 Explanation

Without effective pumping systems, caulked double-layered planking minimized water ingress because it created a redundant barrier against hull breaches, distributing water pressure across multiple layers. Therefore the correct answer is hull planking, rather than other options, which offered different structural and protective benefits.

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