How they raised a boat

[corn-fed-erate]

Two sunken gun boats were raised at Plymouth NC during the war. One by Yankees the other by Confederates. We know from Bob Elliott that the Yankees sent down a specialist to temporarily repair the hole in the Albemarle from the outside and sent enough pumps that they were able to pump more water out of the hull than was leaking in through the repair area. Making the Albemarle pop up like a fishing cork. This took some time. Yankees had specialists, equipment, and time on their side. The Confederates raised the USS Bombshell quickly, most likely without experts and definitely not the same equipment. HOW DID OUR BOYS DO IT?

 

[AndyHall]

"We're gonna need a bigger boat."​

It would depend on many different factors, including the size of the vessel, the type of damage to it, the depth of water, and so on. But marine salvage was a routine activity in ports and on waterways, and a lot could be accomplished with a couple of barges, heavy derricks and steam pumps. It could be as simple (for a small vessel) passing lines underneath it and hauling it up between two barges, one on either side.

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Seems like I read an report from of one of the recon missions the US Navy conducted to keep an eye on the Albemarle. If I recall correctly the report mentions the Confederates using four steamers, two along each side of the USS Southfield, attempting to raise it. Can't remember where I read it. The Southfield is still right where the Albemarle put her, whatever they were doing did not work.

 

[Patrick H]

This is gonna be a real good thread. I can sense it. I am watching!

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Diving technology was more advanced than one might think, actually. While the effects of deeper dives/compression and the "bends" weren't discovered till after the war (in the course of the construction of the Eads Bridge at St. Louis and the Brooklyn Bridge, notably), "submarine armor" (diving suits) were known, as was compressed air.

There's an example of a diver surfacing (and scaring a "contraband") next to a monitor in the Sketchbook of Charles Ellery Stedman (ed. by Jim Dan Hill); I'll see if I can find an image. The helmet looks just like the usual pre-SCUBA era diving helmet.

Also, see this image... if it links correctly, it appears to be a CDV of a Union sailor in diving equipment: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8026096@N04/12633134233/in/photostream

Anyway, Confederate technology wasn't behind Union technology; they just had a few challenges in the manufacturing area. But any equipment they had to begin with would still have been usable.

Unless I misremember, the Norfolk salvage company that raised the hull of the Merrimack for reconstruction into the CSS Virginia was still in business after the war, and salvaged portions of the destroyed Virginia...

 

[corn-fed-erate]

Andy mentioned factors to consider in raising a boat. The USS Bombshell was not in the same position as the one in his picture. When it "sank" more it like settled down in the water about 2-3 feet and came to rest on the bottom. You can tell clearly in the sunken Albemarle picture that the boats barely cleared the bottom at Plymouth. The Bombshell sank at the warf. Don't know if that would help salvage or hinder. The damage that caused the sinking? Nothing like Cushing's torpedo. Historians have given the "credit" to 1 hit just below the waterline from Dearing ' s field artillery which was supporting Hoke 's infantry attack. Most say it was an accident. At any rate the damage may have been a 3"-4" puncture wound. As far as raising a boat goes, this may have been about the easiest it could get. What technique would you think they used?......Anyone?

 

[AndyHall]

At any rate the damage may have been a 3"-4" puncture wound. As far as raising a boat goes, this may have been about the easiest it could get. What technique would you think they used?......Anyone?

A diver (i.e., skin diver, no air supply) might be able to locate the hole and close it with a plug designed for that purpose -- not unlike a giant cork. You could also lash sailcloth or (better) a rubberized blanket over it to reduce additional water coming in. If the wharf was big and solid, you could set up a derrick and a windlass to help lift the vessel, and pump like crazy.

Simple wooden plugs are still a basic part of shipboard damage control -- it's proven technology.

 

[EJ Zander]

My Dad told me while in the Navy and hard hat diving he would trail a line behind him while using some type of water jet in front of him to blast away silt/ muck. He would work his way blindly under a hull letting his helmet rub the underside of the hull for guidance until he came out the other side. His trailed line would be used to guide bigger lines that would ultimately be used to raise a vessel. Sound legit or has the old man been messing with me all these years?

 

[AndyHall]

Expired Image Removed

The MDSUs do some crazy fizzle. That's probably legit, although he might have left some safety steps out.

 

[EJ Zander]

Thanks Andy. He said the space the jet created would immediately close behind him. He also used the same words you did to describe it, haha. His era was late 50's.