My sincere apologies to a fellow Southerner. :-)
All I really know about the CSS Alabama was from a Revell kit I built
back in the late '50s. Think I paid $.89 for it and saw one go for over
$600 on ebay recently. That particular model had a reputation for being
pretty accurate representation The prop had a sleeve that fit through
the stern and over the shaft. It was probably pinned from the inside
but I would guess that the real thing was a bit harder to fit.
OTOH, as you say "quickly" is a relative term. At the time 10 knots was
considered a high performance boat and 60º to the wind was close hauled
so they probably had some time before the pursuer got within cannon
range.
I would imagine that Semmes as captain of the Alabama was more concerend
with the tactics of naval warfare than the intricacies of technology.
The Alabama was not so much a hybred as a hermorphrodyte. It was both a
sailing and a steaming vessel. She was built as a commerce raider not a
ship of the line. Had she been intended for toe to toe battles she
would have been one or the other. Not both. Bringing the prop out of
the water greatly reduced drag under sail but was an additional hassle
for the skipper to deal with.
BF wrote:
You imply that I'm a yankee and I take offense.
Let it be known that my great grand daddy (several times back) was one of
Houston's heroes at San Jacinto and I do know good BBQ. Not sure which
should cause more offense.
Back to the Alabama:
HOW was it disconnected and reattached. The rail thing makes sense but the
attachment had to be under water, doesn't it? Rather quickly is somewhat
subjective, I think. Since Semmes mentions it several times, it implies that
it wasn't an easy task like shoveling several hundred pounds of coal to
raise steam. Granted it was new technology but that doesn't seem to be
Semmes focus. I don't recall him mentioning the "why" of the removable
propeller.
Ray
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:fvUqb.10776$62.3537@lakeread04...
Don't sell us Southern good ol' boys or our BBQ short. The CSS Alabama
had a retractable propeller for better efficiency under sail. (Beats
the heck out of a feathering prop.) It was disconnected from the shaft
and hoisted under the fantail on a rail assembly. It could be lowered
and pinned to the shaft rather quickly.
The Alabama had several other inovations. It could change its rig at
will to disguise itself and had a retractable stack so that it could
look like a pure sailing vessel. The Alabama was built in England but I
think James Bulloch, the Confederate representative, got credit for the
ideas. At least he does around heah. :-)
BTW, Gov. Dean, I don't have a Confederate flag on my Japaneese pickup
but I do understand what you are trying to say. :-)
BF wrote:
Changing the subject totally:
Raphael Semmes, in his account of the CSS Alabama, mentions on several
occasions of fitting the propeller (maybe he used the word screw, not
sure)
before making steam.
Anyone have a clue what he meant.
Did they actually remove the screw and shaft when sailing. If so, how,
without stopping and sending divers down, which they obviously didn't
do.
Or did they simply disengage the screw from the drive shaft so it free
wheeled, and then needed to reattach, perhaps lacking a clutching means?
Or did the shaft pivot on a u-joint near the packing gland and could be
pivoted so the screw was above the water line?
Anyone know or have other ideas?
Anyone else care?
Ray
(btw, I will definitely try Duke's in Ridgeway this Spring when in
Charleston, hope a good thing isn't being spoiled here. Can you say
Wreck)
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at:
http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division:
http://www.spade-anchor-us.com