CSS MISSISSIPPI IN COLOR

[rebelatsea]

This was done in response to a private request.

You will note that she has no conning tower, as per Joseph Pearce's remark at the enquiry, so I have shown a binnacle and wheel on a platform in the forward hatch way, protected by a low coaming.
She is depicted in port, so carries the National Ensign aft, Commission pendant, flag officer's blue command pennant on the starboard yard arm, Louisiana State flag (assuming her home port to be New Orleans) and the Naval Jack at the bow.

 

[Tut11]

Magnificent work!! Twenty cannons is an incredible Ironclad. Thanks for the posting @rebelatsea .

 

[rebelatsea]

Magnificent work!! Twenty cannons is an incredible Ironclad. Thanks for the posting @rebelatsea .

Intended ordnance warrant : 4 -7" MLR, rifled and banded 9" Dahlgren gun blocks rifled on Brooke's pattern, the same as CSS Virginia's two. 16 - 9" Dahlgren smooth bores.

 

[WJC]

Outstanding rendition! Thanks for sharing!

 

[georgew]

Intended ordnance warrant : 4 -7" MLR, rifled and banded 9" Dahlgren gun blocks rifled on Brooke's pattern, the same as CSS Virginia's two. 16 - 9" Dahlgren smooth bores.

Hi Rebel: Which gun positions were they going to eliminate from the broadsides? I believe the reduction was intended to be four guns.

 

[OldReliable1862]

Looks great! She was to be Arthur Sinclair's ship and George Hollins' flagship, right?

 

[Seduzal]

Beautiful work and great attention to details. Thanks for sharing.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Magnificent work!! Twenty cannons is an incredible Ironclad. Thanks for the posting @rebelatsea .

Ditto !

 

[rebelatsea]

Hi Rebel: Which gun positions were they going to eliminate from the broadsides? I believe the reduction was intended to be four guns.

There weren't any reductions. When it was decided to add one gun at each end, the positions of the end guns on each broadside were moved 4ft towards the centre of the broadside, which in practice meant changing all the broadside positions to make an even balance, and the fore and aft guns positions moved inward toward the centre line by 10ft so that they didn't foul the others in action. The plan at no time called for pivot mounts at the corners of the casemate.
Charlie Robbins and I theorized that if the 10" columbiads had to be employed a reduction in the number of guns would b e required to maintain the same weight of ordnance.

 

[rebelatsea]

Looks great! She was to be Arthur Sinclair's ship and George Hollins' flagship, right?

She was certainly Arthur Sinclair's ship- he was appointed her Captain and took command. Captain Mitchell was given command at New Orleans and took Louisiana as his flag as she was in theory at least ready for action. He would probably have taken Mississippi had she been complete.
I think Mallory made the wrong decision, he should have left George N Hollins in charge.

 

[rebelatsea]

Intended ordnance warrant : 4 -7" MLR, rifled and banded 9" Dahlgren gun blocks rifled on Brooke's pattern, the same as CSS Virginia's two. 16 - 9" Dahlgren smooth bores.

That ordnance warrant is totally garbled ! it should read:
4 -7" MLR, rifled 9" Dahlgren gun blocks on Brooke's pattern, as were CSS Virginia's two pivot guns.
16 -9" Dahlgren smooth bores in broadside.

 

[Charlie Robbins]

Great drawing, John! Beautifully done. Many thanks!

 

[georgew]

There weren't any reductions. When it was decided to add one gun at each end, the positions of the end guns on each broadside were moved 4ft towards the centre of the broadside, which in practice meant changing all the broadside positions to make an even balance, and the fore and aft guns positions moved inward toward the centre line by 10ft so that they didn't foul the others in action. The plan at no time called for pivot mounts at the corners of the casemate.
Charlie Robbins and I theorized that if the 10" columbiads had to be employed a reduction in the number of guns would b e required to maintain the same weight of ordnance.

My apologies Rebel. I was thinking of the Louisiana. One wonders where they thought they would get all the ordnance. A mixed bag like the battery of the Arkansas made things difficult for the people in the powder stores. Apparently there were attempts to produce guns of the required calibers at New Orleans, but the results couldn't pass CSN proving tests. They didn't have enough of the heavy guns for the ironed battery Memphis either.

 

[Charlie Robbins]

Gerogew- The armament for CSS Mississippi was being prepared and sent from Norfolk. The 7 " Brooke MLRs had arrived but were not mounted on board her (Two were diverted to CSS Louisiana, one loaned to CSA at Fort Jackson, one left on pier.) The 9" Dahlgren SBs had just started to arrive. T he 9" MLRs on CSS Louisiana may have been some of those intended for CSS Mississippi. All my best- Charlie

 

[OldReliable1862]

Gerogew- The armament for CSS Mississippi was being prepared and sent from Norfolk. The 7 " Brooke MLRs had arrived but were not mounted on board her (Two were diverted to CSS Louisiana, one loaned to CSA at Fort Jackson, one left on pier.) The 9" Dahlgren SBs had just started to arrive. T he 9" MLRs on CSS Louisiana may have been some of those intended for CSS Mississippi. All my best- Charlie

Just where were the ordnance factories in the Confederacy exactly?

 

[DaveBrt]

Just where were the ordnance factories in the Confederacy exactly?

At the time of the fitting out of the NO ships, most guns came from the captures in Norfolk. Tredegar was also making guns in Richmond. A bit later, Selma began to make naval guns, too. There were many other places that made field guns, but not naval ones.

 

[OldReliable1862]

At the time of the fitting out of the NO ships, most guns came from the captures in Norfolk. Tredegar was also making guns in Richmond. A bit later, Selma began to make naval guns, too. There were many other places that made field guns, but not naval ones.

From what I understand, the Cumberland Iron Works in Nashville was able to turn out field guns before its capture, though I wonder if it could have made naval guns if need be.

 

[Charlie Robbins]

At the time of the fitting out of the NO ships, most guns came from the captures in Norfolk. Tredegar was also making guns in Richmond. A bit later, Selma began to make naval guns, too. There were many other places that made field guns, but not naval ones.

There were gunfounders in New Orleans from which the CSN hoped to obtain weapons, but they had difficulties. The local gunfouders did not want to band any converted MLRs that they produced nor did they wish to agree to the proof testing that the CSN wanted before accepting their products. These issues were still unresolved at the time of the fall of New Orleans and had adversely affected the CSN efforts to arm their ships.

 

[OwenRichards]

Holy Cow! Amazing ship. Good job on the illustration.

 

[rebelatsea]

Thank you everyone, I am pleased with it - and that no one spotted a mistake LOL.