Monday, June 24, 2019

CSS Alabama vs. USS Kearsarge, June 19, 1864-- Part 2


Continued from June 19.

The Alabama mounted 8 guns to the Kearsarge's 7.  Yet, Captain Winslow of the Kearsarge enjoyed a superiority in broadside including two heavy XI-inch guns while Semmes had but one heavy gun, an VIII-inch.  Perhaps his greatest advantage was superior ammunition, since the Alabama's had deteriorated during her long cruise.

Furthermore, Winslow had protected the sides of his ship and the vulnerable machinery by hanging heavy chains over  the sides from topside to below the waterline.  Kearsarge's complement was 163.  Alabama's was 149.

From Wikipedia:

CSS Alabama:

220 feet long, 31.8 foot beam
Complement 145 officers and men

Armament:

six 32-pdr cannons
one 110-pdr. cannon
one 68-pdr. cannon

USS Kearsarge

201.3 feet, 33.8 foot beam

Armament:

two 11-inch Dahlgren smoothbore
four 32-pdr. guns
one 30-pdr. Parrott rifle

--Old B-Runner

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