Cutter sailing ship



A cutter sailing ship is a mode of aquatic transportation used by the Southern Water Tribe's military to transport it's warriors. The boat is exclusively suited for use near the South Pole, but can function in many other regions of the world as well.

History
In 97 ASC, Chief Hakoda and his troops left the Southern Water Tribe to help the Earth Kingdom fight back against the invading Fire Nation. The battalion sailed to the Eastern Sea on four cutter sailing ships, where the vessels were used to fight the Fire Nation's navy. One night years later, while he was on a ship in the middle of the sea, Hakoda spotted a lost Appa flying high above him.

After the fall of Ba Sing Se, Hakoda and his companions fled their base at Chameleon Bay, realizing that their battered cutters could not withstand another battle. However, they encountered a Fire Nation scout ship shortly thereafter, and were forced to sink their own cutters in order to decieve their enemies into thinking they had already been defeated. Hakoda, his warriors, and Team Avatar darted away on rowboats.

These ships were rebuilt in time for the invasion of the Fire Nation in 100 ASC. The mechanist gave them the upgrade of each being equipped with a submarine. Fire Nation soldiers captured and secured the cutters near the Great Gates of Azulon, but, to their bewilderment, found no crew on board.

Design
A cutter sailing ship is somewhat U-shaped. The hull of the ship, which has a yellow lantern, extends high up into the air and is tied, by rope, to a wooden mast at the vessel's center. The mast is also tied to various other parts of the ship, which is often done so that it does not fall over due to sustained damage. A symbolic blue flag bearing the Water Tribe's emblem is placed on top of the mast. The blue sail is triangular and also connects to the mast: it is the primary way the cutter moves across the water.

The ship is made from wooden planks. The wood comes in two shades of brown, light and dark. The cutter's trimmings and borders are usually light brown, while the remainder of the it is darker in coloration. The vessel's deck stores drinking water, bags of food, boxes, crates, barrels cleaning utensils, and various animal skins. The interior of the ship is accessible via a doorway and stairs.