kevikens
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Location
- New Jersey
I was just reading in Philip Van Doren Stern's 1962 publication, the "Confederate Navy", of the encounter between the USN Monitor Weehawken and the CSS Atlanta. The Atlanta was well respected by the USN and was considered among the best the Confederacy constructed, so much so that when captured she was repaired and put into US service. The Weehawken was armed with two Dahlgrens, one a 15 inch ship smasher. In the 1863 encounter, the Weehawken fired her 15 inch Dahlgren with what is called a 'cored' shot. Now, whatever a cored shot is, it went through the armored casemate and splintered the thick wood backing. The concussion is reported to have knocked 40 of the Atlanta's crew unconscious, wounded 16 others, one fatally, and knocked much of the Atlanta's round shop off her racks to roll around the gun deck. After a few more damaging hits she surrendered.
My question is about the shot or shell the Weehawken was using. What exactly is a 'cored' shot? Did all monitors carry them at all times? Did the wooden sloops and frigates carry some of this shot? Did Confederate iron clads carry them? Shore batteries? I don't recall that any of the USN's shot or shells actually penetrated the CSN 's Tennessee later at Mobile. Was this because none of the Union warships were using this 'cored' shot or was the Tennessee's armor too much even for 'cored' shot? Any help on this kind of shot is greatly appreciated.
My question is about the shot or shell the Weehawken was using. What exactly is a 'cored' shot? Did all monitors carry them at all times? Did the wooden sloops and frigates carry some of this shot? Did Confederate iron clads carry them? Shore batteries? I don't recall that any of the USN's shot or shells actually penetrated the CSN 's Tennessee later at Mobile. Was this because none of the Union warships were using this 'cored' shot or was the Tennessee's armor too much even for 'cored' shot? Any help on this kind of shot is greatly appreciated.