In World War II, **warships** were primarily made of **steel** with some wooden elements, particularly in certain areas, but the surface of these ships was not entirely made of wood. The correct answer is that the ships were made of steel, with **wood used in specific places** on top or in select areas.
The **hull** and **superstructure** of most World War II warships, including **battleships**, **cruisers**, and **destroyers**, were constructed from steel. Steel was preferred for the hulls of warships due to its **strength, durability**, and **ability to withstand heavy fire**. The steel construction provided the necessary protection from enemy shells and torpedoes, especially when reinforced with **armor plating** in critical areas like the **belt**, **deck**, and **turrets**.
However, **wood** was used in certain parts of the ship for practical reasons, such as on the **decks** of some vessels. This was particularly common in smaller ships, like **destroyers** and **escort carriers**. The use of wood on the decks helped **reduce the weight of the ship**, especially in areas that did not require the strength of steel. It was also used for **anti-slip properties** and could be easier to replace or repair when damaged. Wood was also used in **gun platforms** and sometimes in the **structure of smaller vessels** like **PT boats** (patrol torpedo boats), which often had wooden hulls.
Some ships, especially those in the **Pacific Theater**, were also designed with wood for **aircraft carrier decks**, as wood could provide the necessary surface for **aircraft landing and takeoff**. In these cases, the wood used was typically **planks** of **Douglas fir or teak**, which were durable and provided a solid grip for aircraft wheels.
In summary, **steel** was the primary material used for the construction of World War II warships, with **wood** serving as a supplementary material in certain areas like the decks and smaller vessels.