rebelatsea
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- Joined
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The 150ft PP Ironclad gunboats of John L. Porter
Chief naval Constructor CSN
By
John W. Wallis, with additional comments on Loa and the summary
by CDR C. B. Robbins USN ( rtd).
This paper is intended to summarize what is currently known about these vessels. No ship design springs into existence fully fledged and the 150ft type, often erroneously identified as the "Richmonds" are no exception.
For convenience I have listed the members of the type in State order.
CSS Richmond.
Jon L Porter produced a plan for a seagoing ironclad whose beam was limited by the width of the biggest dry dock at Gosport Navy yard, to 58ft. No copies of the drawing have survived and the version below, by the author, is based on the proportions of the 150ft type plan. Had the CSN been bale to source suitable machinery, this may well have been CSS Virginia.
However, as the emphasis of CSN ironclad design shifted from offensive to defensive, Porter produced a reduced version. six vessels of this type were constructed in ports on the Atlantic coast of the South. Further modified examples were proposed for construction at New Orleans, and one foreign near sister which will come later.
Plan by Robert Holcombe from John L. Porter's original drawing.
CSS Richmond as completed
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 7.2knots crew 180
Dimensions: 172ft OA, 150ft PP x 45.5ft Ex , 35ft BM x 14ft5 D, 12ft DPH, 1,548tons
Guns: initially 3 -7" single banded Brooke MLR, (P&S & Aft), 1 - double banded Brooke MLR forward.
2 - 8" Brooke MLR (P&S) were substituted and a 150pdr spar torpedo added in 1863. Details from Tredegar Ironworks records.
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 40 degrees. top and decks 2" iron.
Design: J L Porter /J.Meads. Builder Norfolk Navy & Rocketts Yard, Richmond Va.
Laid down; 03/1862, launched 6/05/1862 , completed 07/62, commissioned 11/1862.
The vessel, then un-named, began life at Gosport Navy Yard, but was towed to Richmond where she was completed by, Master Carpenter James Meads, under the supervision of William Graves, to a modified pan from the knuckle upwards.
Her twin engines, built by the Naval Ironworks included one cylinder removed from the lightship Arctic in 1859, and which had been used to power a sawmill. In the strong currents of the James River, speed was reduced by up to 2.5 knots.
Her appearance has been the subject of debate, but the Peruvian casemate ship Loa (see later) was constructed to a modified version of the plans to suit her conversion from a merchant vessel, and this confirms the general appearance of the Richmond.
By most accounts a fine ship, John M Brooke used her to trial guns and carriages. She was flagship of the James River Squadron until the second CSS Virginia was commissioned.
Almost constantly in action, she was at Dutch Gap 13/06/1864, Fort Harrison 29 /09 - 6/10/ 1864. Destroyed 3/4/1685 to prevent capture.
She was painted black below the knuckle, mid to dark grey above.
Extract from a painting showing CSS Richmond at Drewrys Bluff, she is stern on to the artist.
R.G .Skerrett, painting in the early years of the 20th Century wasn't far wrong either.
CSS North Carolina
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 6 knots
Dimensions: 172ft 6 inches OA, 150ft PP x 45ft Ex , 32ft BM x 14ft D, 12ft DPH, 1,553 tons
Guns: 4 -6.4" Brooke MLR
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 35 degrees. top and decks unknown
Design: J L Porter Builder: Beery Bros ,Wilmington Nc
Laid down; April or May1862, launched, December 1862 , completed June 1863
Beery Bros gave her an oblong casemate on what became known as a Pearce knuckle. North Carolina suffered severely from poor construction and the attentions of the shipworm, spending most of her time anchored in one place. Her ordnance was reduced by removing one broadside 6.4" gun. This was presumably done to reduce the strain on her hull. Her single cylinder vertical inverted engine came from the tug Uncle Ben.
Proceeding down river in July 1864 to replace CSS Raleigh, a log fouled her screw. She ran aground and was towed to Smithville, being beached at Battery Island. After her pumps failed to save her and the main boiler failed, she was stripped of guns and armour in August 1864. The armour was transferred to the double citadel ship under construction at Wilmington. We cannot be sure she was ever painted.
Pencil sketch done on the spot, of CSS North Carolina shortly after launching, by William Coffrin
CSS Raleigh
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 7. 6 knots
Dimensions: 172ft OA, 150ft PP x 45ft Ex , 32ft BM x 14ft D, 12ft DPH, 1,557 tons
Guns: 2 -7" & 2 - 6.4" Brooke MLR
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 35 degrees. top and decks unknown
Design: J L Porter Builder: J.L.Cassidey ,Wilmington Nc
Laid down; 1863, launched, 1863 , completed 30 April 1864
From an original plan by Robert Holcombe
Constructed to conform fairly closely to Porter's drawings, she was a total contrast to her half sister, being strongly built, and seaworthy at least in coastal waters. Her engines were two single cylinder horizontal direct acting. Painted a shade very close to midnight blue she struck Wilmington bar and the falling tide broke her back on 7th May 1864, having been at sea all night ,and after driving the USN blockaders away the previous day. Her armour ,guns and machinery were all salvaged. Major action New Inlet Nc, 6 May 1864
Chief naval Constructor CSN
By
John W. Wallis, with additional comments on Loa and the summary
by CDR C. B. Robbins USN ( rtd).
This paper is intended to summarize what is currently known about these vessels. No ship design springs into existence fully fledged and the 150ft type, often erroneously identified as the "Richmonds" are no exception.
For convenience I have listed the members of the type in State order.
CSS Richmond.
Jon L Porter produced a plan for a seagoing ironclad whose beam was limited by the width of the biggest dry dock at Gosport Navy yard, to 58ft. No copies of the drawing have survived and the version below, by the author, is based on the proportions of the 150ft type plan. Had the CSN been bale to source suitable machinery, this may well have been CSS Virginia.
However, as the emphasis of CSN ironclad design shifted from offensive to defensive, Porter produced a reduced version. six vessels of this type were constructed in ports on the Atlantic coast of the South. Further modified examples were proposed for construction at New Orleans, and one foreign near sister which will come later.
CSS Richmond as completed
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 7.2knots crew 180
Dimensions: 172ft OA, 150ft PP x 45.5ft Ex , 35ft BM x 14ft5 D, 12ft DPH, 1,548tons
Guns: initially 3 -7" single banded Brooke MLR, (P&S & Aft), 1 - double banded Brooke MLR forward.
2 - 8" Brooke MLR (P&S) were substituted and a 150pdr spar torpedo added in 1863. Details from Tredegar Ironworks records.
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 40 degrees. top and decks 2" iron.
Design: J L Porter /J.Meads. Builder Norfolk Navy & Rocketts Yard, Richmond Va.
Laid down; 03/1862, launched 6/05/1862 , completed 07/62, commissioned 11/1862.
The vessel, then un-named, began life at Gosport Navy Yard, but was towed to Richmond where she was completed by, Master Carpenter James Meads, under the supervision of William Graves, to a modified pan from the knuckle upwards.
Her twin engines, built by the Naval Ironworks included one cylinder removed from the lightship Arctic in 1859, and which had been used to power a sawmill. In the strong currents of the James River, speed was reduced by up to 2.5 knots.
Her appearance has been the subject of debate, but the Peruvian casemate ship Loa (see later) was constructed to a modified version of the plans to suit her conversion from a merchant vessel, and this confirms the general appearance of the Richmond.
By most accounts a fine ship, John M Brooke used her to trial guns and carriages. She was flagship of the James River Squadron until the second CSS Virginia was commissioned.
Almost constantly in action, she was at Dutch Gap 13/06/1864, Fort Harrison 29 /09 - 6/10/ 1864. Destroyed 3/4/1685 to prevent capture.
She was painted black below the knuckle, mid to dark grey above.
Extract from a painting showing CSS Richmond at Drewrys Bluff, she is stern on to the artist.
R.G .Skerrett, painting in the early years of the 20th Century wasn't far wrong either.
CSS North Carolina
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 6 knots
Dimensions: 172ft 6 inches OA, 150ft PP x 45ft Ex , 32ft BM x 14ft D, 12ft DPH, 1,553 tons
Guns: 4 -6.4" Brooke MLR
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 35 degrees. top and decks unknown
Design: J L Porter Builder: Beery Bros ,Wilmington Nc
Laid down; April or May1862, launched, December 1862 , completed June 1863
Beery Bros gave her an oblong casemate on what became known as a Pearce knuckle. North Carolina suffered severely from poor construction and the attentions of the shipworm, spending most of her time anchored in one place. Her ordnance was reduced by removing one broadside 6.4" gun. This was presumably done to reduce the strain on her hull. Her single cylinder vertical inverted engine came from the tug Uncle Ben.
Proceeding down river in July 1864 to replace CSS Raleigh, a log fouled her screw. She ran aground and was towed to Smithville, being beached at Battery Island. After her pumps failed to save her and the main boiler failed, she was stripped of guns and armour in August 1864. The armour was transferred to the double citadel ship under construction at Wilmington. We cannot be sure she was ever painted.
Pencil sketch done on the spot, of CSS North Carolina shortly after launching, by William Coffrin
CSS Raleigh
150ft IC gunboat modified.
Type : ironclad steam sloop. One 8 -10ft diameter screw speed 7. 6 knots
Dimensions: 172ft OA, 150ft PP x 45ft Ex , 32ft BM x 14ft D, 12ft DPH, 1,557 tons
Guns: 2 -7" & 2 - 6.4" Brooke MLR
Armour: 4" iron over 22" timber sloped at 35 degrees. top and decks unknown
Design: J L Porter Builder: J.L.Cassidey ,Wilmington Nc
Laid down; 1863, launched, 1863 , completed 30 April 1864
From an original plan by Robert Holcombe
Constructed to conform fairly closely to Porter's drawings, she was a total contrast to her half sister, being strongly built, and seaworthy at least in coastal waters. Her engines were two single cylinder horizontal direct acting. Painted a shade very close to midnight blue she struck Wilmington bar and the falling tide broke her back on 7th May 1864, having been at sea all night ,and after driving the USN blockaders away the previous day. Her armour ,guns and machinery were all salvaged. Major action New Inlet Nc, 6 May 1864