Which threat increased when 18th-century ships stored excess black powder below the waterline during naval battles?

💡 Explanation

When ships stored excess black powder below the waterline, increased moisture and temperature fluctuations accelerated the slow oxidation of sulfur and charcoal, which resulted in self-heating eventually leading to spontaneous combustion. Therefore, spontaneous combustion risk increased, rather than hull rupture, vibration damage, or faster degradation which would be caused by other conditions.

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