Kentucky Derby Cavalier.
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2019
I feel it's pretty well understood that the CSA's naval capabilities were always going to be limited, barring a foreign power providing them with ships. What I'm wondering is why they didn't try to find work-arounds for this? Maybe it's just my imagination getting the best of me or something but is it wrong to speculate about the possibilities of boarding parties playing a bigger role in the naval forces of the CSA?
Above is a pictue of the Battle of Memphis in 1862 where a small group of Rebel rams took on a larger force of Timberclad and Ironclad ships. As far as I know, no attempts to board by the Rebs was tried. This is was a missed oppurtunity in my opinion, if you're going up against a technologically and numerically superior force you have to take risks. I know that the Confederate army had a marine Corps, I suppose they didn't have one for the Mississippi
river fleet?
(Example of what a boarding action might look like.)
Some might say that using boarding parties would've ended badly for anyone who had the idea, but I disagree, and there is one weapon that could've been utilized to the advantage of anyone using it whilst aboard an enemy vessel, and that would be the grenade.
What you see here is a Selma Arsenal manufactured grenade, and in my mind this thing, if used correctly, could've been a game changer. I'm aware that the grenades of the ACW weren't very good, but I think they had potential. Imagine this, a small team boards an enemy vessel. They start chucking a couple of these bad boys into any breach in the ship they can find. It could be a gun port, or a viewing port, and.................... KABOOM! Clears the inside of the ship, possibly even causing the boiler to go aswell. It doesn't even have to be an explosive of the Selma Arsenal design. What about specially made explosives to plant on a weak point on the ship?
So, I argue that specialists trained by either side (mainly the CSA though) could've been ready to take down other vessels by way of boarding actions. Not only this, but I argue that the CSN could've captured ships and used them against the North's river squadrons.
I know, I know. People tend to think about War in cinematic terms. I know this isn't like a James Bond movie or something, but kick the idea around, flirt with it. I think the South could've made it work.
Above is a pictue of the Battle of Memphis in 1862 where a small group of Rebel rams took on a larger force of Timberclad and Ironclad ships. As far as I know, no attempts to board by the Rebs was tried. This is was a missed oppurtunity in my opinion, if you're going up against a technologically and numerically superior force you have to take risks. I know that the Confederate army had a marine Corps, I suppose they didn't have one for the Mississippi
river fleet?
(Example of what a boarding action might look like.)
Some might say that using boarding parties would've ended badly for anyone who had the idea, but I disagree, and there is one weapon that could've been utilized to the advantage of anyone using it whilst aboard an enemy vessel, and that would be the grenade.
What you see here is a Selma Arsenal manufactured grenade, and in my mind this thing, if used correctly, could've been a game changer. I'm aware that the grenades of the ACW weren't very good, but I think they had potential. Imagine this, a small team boards an enemy vessel. They start chucking a couple of these bad boys into any breach in the ship they can find. It could be a gun port, or a viewing port, and.................... KABOOM! Clears the inside of the ship, possibly even causing the boiler to go aswell. It doesn't even have to be an explosive of the Selma Arsenal design. What about specially made explosives to plant on a weak point on the ship?
So, I argue that specialists trained by either side (mainly the CSA though) could've been ready to take down other vessels by way of boarding actions. Not only this, but I argue that the CSN could've captured ships and used them against the North's river squadrons.
I know, I know. People tend to think about War in cinematic terms. I know this isn't like a James Bond movie or something, but kick the idea around, flirt with it. I think the South could've made it work.