this week we have the Confederate States Navy ironclad CSS Albemarle. built in a cornfield next to a river. in service for a little over 8 months in 1864 the Albemarle defeated the Union Navy in two different battles and was finally destroyed in a nighttime torpedo attack by a Union officer and his men. Albemarle was not a large ship only 152ft. long but, she had good armor of 4" thickness over a heavy oak backing on her 60ft. Casemate and a powerful armament of two double banded 6.4" Brooke Rifles. she had two engines driving two screws for good manuverability but was not very fast. she didn't have to be as there was nothing to run away from in her neighborhood. in her first engagement she sank the Union gunboat USS Southfield by ramming and drove off the Union gunboat Miami. in her second action she defeated the Union gunboats USS Sassacus, Miami and Mattabesett. after this action she retired up river to repair some minor damage received in her last action. here she was later found behind a barrier of chained together logs and sunk by a Union steam torpedo launch which drove over the logs and exploded a spar torpedo underneath the Albemarle's hull. Albemarle was captained by Commander James W. Cooke CSN. the launch which sank her was under command of Lt. W.B. Cushing USN. the first two pictures are labeled. the third is of one of the very Brooke Rifles carried by Albemarle. the last two are as far as i can find the only photographs of Albemarle in existence. they were taken after she was raised by the USN and brought to the Norfolk Navy Yard. she was finally sold for scrap in 1867.
No comments:
Post a Comment