rebelatsea
Captain
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2013
- Location
- Kent ,England.
This grew out of a discussion on a Facebook naval wargaming group, when someone asked what the outcome might have been if Secretary Mallory ordered the ship constructed to the original design as approved by the first Board of construction.
CSS Mississippi being probably my favourite CSN ironclad I kept that thought and have developed it over time.
The historical progression of the build and loss has been extensively covered in this forum, but I thought this alternative was worth exploring.
The premise is that after the board approval, either:
1) Mallory instructs the Tifts to proceed with the plan as drawn
2) that John L Porter produces the working drawings, basically W.T Smith's plan with knuckle and Mallory's 38 degree angle battery additions.
Remember that, after Porter produced the working drawings, he had no further contact with the project, all communication being between Mallory and the builders at New Orleans.
Asa Tift, Chief Engineer James H Warner & engineer E. M. Ivens seconded from Tredegar, determine that Porter's additions add unnecessary weight and complication and instruct Acting Constructor Joseph Pearce to proceed with the original plan as approved.
The vessel will still be lengthened amidships, as Warner & Ivens produce the machinery outfit, but the vessel will have vertical sides as drawn.
It will mount 16 - 9"SB in broadside guns and 2 - 7" MLR at each end of the central battery.
Protection will be as in the historical record but the battery sides and ends will 24 inches thick, vice 18" in the real vessel. The 5 - 6ft Bulwarks atop the battery will be retained.
I have shown a conning position (one was never designed for the real ship), tradition and current practice would have a wheel, compass binnacle etc at the aft end of the battery.
CSS Mississippi being probably my favourite CSN ironclad I kept that thought and have developed it over time.
The historical progression of the build and loss has been extensively covered in this forum, but I thought this alternative was worth exploring.
The premise is that after the board approval, either:
1) Mallory instructs the Tifts to proceed with the plan as drawn
2) that John L Porter produces the working drawings, basically W.T Smith's plan with knuckle and Mallory's 38 degree angle battery additions.
Remember that, after Porter produced the working drawings, he had no further contact with the project, all communication being between Mallory and the builders at New Orleans.
Asa Tift, Chief Engineer James H Warner & engineer E. M. Ivens seconded from Tredegar, determine that Porter's additions add unnecessary weight and complication and instruct Acting Constructor Joseph Pearce to proceed with the original plan as approved.
The vessel will still be lengthened amidships, as Warner & Ivens produce the machinery outfit, but the vessel will have vertical sides as drawn.
It will mount 16 - 9"SB in broadside guns and 2 - 7" MLR at each end of the central battery.
Protection will be as in the historical record but the battery sides and ends will 24 inches thick, vice 18" in the real vessel. The 5 - 6ft Bulwarks atop the battery will be retained.
I have shown a conning position (one was never designed for the real ship), tradition and current practice would have a wheel, compass binnacle etc at the aft end of the battery.
Bringing the