More about the Wampanoag

This is my updated Wampanoag photograph (edited). I had decided that the original photograph that I have found seemed defective, as if it had been retouched or digitally altered in some way that created multiple waterlines, different foward from aft. I have fixed that problem. I also found some interesting insight into the design. The ships were originally intended for use in stopping the fast, British-built blockade-runners that could reach 17 knots. Internal naval politics, principally by David Dixon Porter, ensured that the construction was halted at the critical period. By the time that they were finished, the U.S. Navy no longer had any use for the ships. They used old technology boilers and engines, except for the gearing to increase the propellor speed. That meant that they had a very short range, due to their high coal consumption. Still, the Wampanoag set a speed record that held for several decades.

The Wampanoag

The Wampanoag was built as a fast cruiser, but with engines that were not sufficiently advanced. As a result, the hull was too weak and the engines too large and heavy. Still, the Wapanoag is said to have achieved 17.75 knots in a trial condition. The Wapanoag was 335ft x 44ft-4in x 18ft-6in and displaced about 4,215 tons. The Wampanoag was eventually renamed Florida. These ships were still classed as screw frigates in the U.S.Navy when they were built. Aside from their other faults, these ships only had guns lacked bow fire, which was regrettable for a commerce raider.

The monitor Casco

The Casco class shallow-draft monitor design was a failure. The displacement was inadequate for the planned weights. The Casco was completed as a spar torpedo boat, but was totally unsuited for such as role, as her speed was only 5 knots. This picture probably shows the Casco on the James River, which she cleared of mines.

The USS Cumberland, later sunk by the CSS Virginia

This is said to be a photograph of the USS Cumberland, a sailing corvette, that was sunk by ramming by the CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads in 1862.

The cruiser Shah

The most notable event in the career of the British unarmoured cruiser Shah was in 1877, when the Shah and the Amethyst fought an action against the Peruvian ironclad Huascar. The main lesson from the battle was that large cruisers needed some protection in the form of armour. The Shah and Amethyst were unable to damage the Huascar. Had the Peruvians been able to fire accurately, William Hovgaard thought that the Huascar might have defeated the two unarmoured cruisers. The Shah was nominally 6,250 tons and carried 2-9in MLR, 16-7in MLR, and 8-64pdr MLR. The Shah had a maximum speed of 16.2 knots.

The small wooden cruiser USS Hartford

The USS Hartford was about a 2550 ton wooden cruiser. SHe had a single screw which could propel the Hartford at up to 9-1/2 knots. She was originally armed with 20-9in MLSB guns, augmented by 2-20pdr Parrott guns and 2-12pdr guns. She served as David Farragut's flagship from January 1862. Her most notable actions were the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Mobile Bay.

A really great picture of HMS Viper at speed

This is a picture that is derived from that on Wikipedia, but is cleaned up considerably. The picture is so useful, because you could make an accurate outboard profile drawing use it.