Recording Hits

[MikeyB]

I'm reading Shelby Foote and in his account of Foote's attack on Charleston harbor he seems to cite the number of hits scored on each of the union ironclads.

My question is - how the heck did they record this? While I'm sure these are very much estimates, who is even attempting the exercise? Is it the artillery crews who record hits in their logs, or does someone on each of the ironclads mark off a hit in chalk each time?

 

[captaindrew]

I don't know for sure but I'd have to think that each battery commander would have to pay close attention to where their rounds are landing to adjust their aim so I'd assume they'd at least have an estimate of how many rounds found their target. I'm sure some of our artillery guys can answer this better.

 

[R. Porter]

If you are the commander of an iron clad you'd want t know where your vessel had been hit after each engagement so that you could assess the level of damage and decide when to head back to base for repairs. For a minimum of hits you could probably count the number of new dents.

 

[MikeyB]

If you are the commander of an iron clad you'd want t know where your vessel had been hit after each engagement so that you could assess the level of damage and decide when to head back to base for repairs. For a minimum of hits you could probably count the number of new dents.

ah that makes total sense

 

[TallTallMan]

"Recording hits"? I thought this was gonna be about an album by Sherman or something. Maybe he'll sing "Georgia on My Mind".

 

[R. Porter]

"Recording hits"? I thought this was gonna be about an album by Sherman or something. Maybe he'll sing "Georgia on My Mind".

I was thinking a cover of Stayin' Alive myself.

 

[TallTallMan]

I was thinking a cover of Stayin' Alive myself.

And then Farragut does "Walkin' to New Orleans". Let's start a thread on this!