CSS Virginia model in Hampton Roads naval Museum.

[rebelatsea]

The model of CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads Naval Museum shoes the ship with planked over forecastle AND quarterdeck, in fact they are smooth as if plated. I knew recent findings confirmed her Forecastle was decked over , but the quarterdeck filling is new to me.

 

[Story]

Might be prudent to find out who the model builder was and where did he find his information for such.

Related -

Remains of the Celebrated Ironclad: Gosport and the Fate of CSS Virginia

Dr. Anna Gibson Holloway presented "The Remains of the Celebrated Ironclad: Gosport and the Fate of CSS Virginia."

drjustinimelsr.com

 

[Bil R]

The model of CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads Naval Museum shoes the ship with planked over forecastle AND quarterdeck, in fact they are smooth as if plated. I knew recent findings confirmed her Forecastle was decked over , but the quarterdeck filling is new to me. View attachment 554957

Hello John,

I've seen this model in person some time ago and noted the same differences. At that time a Porter family descendant in Portsmouth allowed me to see the original Virginia plan as done by J. L. Porter. It shows these 'decks' fore and aft. He desired to sell it to the Smithsonian Institution but a relative had already sold them a copy and they did wish to pay the asking price. Eventually the plan was sold just a few years ago.

Anyway, the Virginia was an experiment. There were two competing designs of similar concept by Brooke and Porter. Mallory chose Brooke's concept and asked Porter to work out the design details and construct it. If you recall from Brooke's initial draft it called for water tanks to be placed fore and aft of the casemate. These would be emptied in normal service and allow smoother handling and steaming. In battle, they were to be filled with water lowering them beneath the waterline such that only the casemate appeared above.

Porter had a problem. He had to make this concept fit on a pre-existing hull of deep draft. He appreciated only having the casemate exposed in battle, but how would he do this on the Merrimac hull? Despite his best efforts to cut down the hull, she remained deep draft and heavy by the stern. The fore water tanks were not ready in time for Buchannan to act. This deck and the planned aft one would have given space to handle her anchors and mooring gear. To bring the bow down and level the vessel, pig iron was placed within a wooden breakwater on the bow as an interim measure. This would later be planked over to allow crew movement. As the stern was already beneath the water, no tanks, weight or breakwater with deck was placed there. There was a connecting deck to support the upper pinion of the rudder but that was all. It remained a very vulnerable part of the Virginia.

The model reflects Porter's original draft with Brooke tank decks fitted fore and aft. Other details, such as boat arrangements are hypothetical. It does not reflect the Virginia 'as fitted'. That is my understanding of the model. It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

All the best,
Bil

 

[rebelatsea]

Thank you Bil. I have (poor) copies of both Brooke and Porter plans done on the very old photocopiers which give semi - gloss copies. I scanned them and printed copies to be safe, just as well as the originals are fading out despite being kept in dark folders.
The Brooke tanks are the obvious answer to my question !

For years I could not get my head around the pig iron on the foredeck, before realising that it must have been decked over, as you say to provide a working platform. You confirm that my drawings, and model of the ship are right - thank goodness for that.

I suggest that the modelmaker provided 3 boats, on the basis two would be the complement for communication, landing, stores etc, the third may be intended as Captains launch.

 

[Story]

Hello John,

I've seen this model in person some time ago and noted the same differences. At that time a Porter family descendant in Portsmouth allowed me to see the original Virginia plan as done by J. L. Porter. It shows these 'decks' fore and aft. He desired to sell it to the Smithsonian Institution but a relative had already sold them a copy and they did wish to pay the asking price. Eventually the plan was sold just a few years ago.

Anyway, the Virginia was an experiment. There were two competing designs of similar concept by Brooke and Porter. Mallory chose Brooke's concept and asked Porter to work out the design details and construct it. If you recall from Brooke's initial draft it called for water tanks to be placed fore and aft of the casemate. These would be emptied in normal service and allow smoother handling and steaming. In battle, they were to be filled with water lowering them beneath the waterline such that only the casemate appeared above.

Porter had a problem. He had to make this concept fit on a pre-existing hull of deep draft. He appreciated only having the casemate exposed in battle, but how would he do this on the Merrimac hull? Despite his best efforts to cut down the hull, she remained deep draft and heavy by the stern. The fore water tanks were not ready in time for Buchannan to act. This deck and the planned aft one would have given space to handle her anchors and mooring gear. To bring the bow down and level the vessel, pig iron was placed within a wooden breakwater on the bow as an interim measure. This would later be planked over to allow crew movement. As the stern was already beneath the water, no tanks, weight or breakwater with deck was placed there. There was a connecting deck to support the upper pinion of the rudder but that was all. It remained a very vulnerable part of the Virginia.

The model reflects Porter's original draft with Brooke tank decks fitted fore and aft. Other details, such as boat arrangements are hypothetical. It does not reflect the Virginia 'as fitted'. That is my understanding of the model. It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

All the best,
Bil

Sounds like your post would make an excellent elaboration placard at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, @Bil R