Subject:
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Re: John E. Doolittle
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.pirates
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Date:
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Tue, 1 Feb 2000 23:24:58 GMT
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Viewed:
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8533 times
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Bruce Schlickbernd wrote:
> In lugnet.pirates, Lindsay Frederick Braun writes:
> (with various others, but the attribs get confusing)
> > > >
> > > > How about a barge-like monitor?
> >
> > >
> > > > No sails or rigging to set afire while arguing with the bad guys. You • could
> > > > tow it (a considerable distance) behind your ship, or anchor it in position
> > > > and leave it. Ideal for leaving in harbour mouths.
> > > >
> > > > You could tow it into battle, and leave it among the bad guys. I'm
> > > > thinking fireship, only better.
> > >
> > > Hmmm, well, that would seem to work. Don't quite know why it wasn't tried • (or
> > > maybe it has been, but I haven't run across it yet). Too slow to aim,
> > > especially when the target is moving?
> >
> > It was tried--in 1862. That was part of the theory behind the Confederate ram
> > Virginia (formerly the Federal frigate USS Merrimack). It just sort of sailed • in
> > and among the blockade force at Hampton Roads, and caused mayhem. However, • ships
> > weren't as close together as I think we're imagining, so it really was • impossible
> > to take out more than one at a time. Ammunition, after all, is limited. :) • I
> > think the tactic did need to wait for a viable alternative to sail propulsion
> > before it would be feasible.
>
> Are you refering to congreaves (which is what this is primarily about) or
> barge-like platforms for firing? I can't recall the Virginia using rockets,
> but the civil war isn't something I really paid much attention to since the
> centennial (ahhhh, all those National Geographic articles when I was a boy).
No, I'm referring to barge-like platforms.
> For anyone interested in the barge-monitor thingie (didn't spot anything about
> them using rockets, alas, but I only skimmed the article):
>
> http://www.thehistorynet.com/AmericasCivilWar/articles/07963_text.htm
I don't think any of them used rockets.
best,
Lindsay
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| In lugnet.pirates, Lindsay Frederick Braun writes: (with various others, but the attribs get confusing) (...) could (...) (or (...) in (...) ships (...) impossible (...) I (...) Are you refering to congreaves (which is what this is primarily about) (...) (27 years ago, 1-Feb-00, to lugnet.pirates)
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