Sunday, April 7, 2013

Ironclad Attack On Charleston 150 Years Ago Today-- Part 2

Next in line, the Passaic had her XI-inch gun  disabled for several hours and the turret was temporarily unable to turn.  All the plates on the upper turret were broken and the pilot house badly dented while receiving 35 hits.  The Montauk was hit 14 times.  The Patapsco lost headway and became a sitting target and took 47 hits.

The flagship, the New Ironsides, had become unmanageable in the heavy current and the Catskill passed her and to withing 600 yards of Sumter.  Now in a crossfire, the Catskill was struck 20 times, one of which broke the deck plates causing her to take on water.

The New Ironsides barely escaped disaster as the ship was directly over a, 2,000 pound electric torpedo that failed to go off.

Following the Catskill was the Nantucket which took 51 hits, one jamming the turret.  The Nahant was hit 36 times with three disabling the turret and another shot messed up the steering gear.

The Keokuk had to run past the disabled Nahant and ran to within 600 yards of Fort Sumter where she remained for 30 minutes and was riddled with 90 shots, many of which pierced her at or below the waterline.  This forced her out of action and anchored out of range.  Thanks to calm seas, her crew was able to keep her afloat, but the next day, April 8th, a breeze came up and the ship sank.

Taking a Pounding.  --Old B-R'er

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