MARCH 26TH
Asst. Secy of Navy Fox notified Admiral Du Pont, "We have sent you down the semisubmarine boat 'Alligator' that may be useful in making reconnaissances. " The Alligator was designed by the French inventor Brutus de Villeroy and built for the government in Philadelphia, was 46 feet long, 4.5 feet in beam and carried a crew of 17 men.
Originally designed to be propelled with folding oars, that had been replaced by a hand-operated screw propeller (like the Hunley's).
One of its earlier commanders during trials was none other than Thomas O. Selfridge, the sinker of ships. The Alligator later sank off Cape Hatteras on its way to Du Pont, but Selfridge was not on the ship at the time.
MARCH 27TH
The USS Hartford passed and engaged Confederate batteries at Warrenton.
MARCH 28TH
CSS Florida, Lt. Maffitt, captured bark Lapwing with cargo of coal. He transferred a howitzer and ammunition to it and renamed it Oreto to be used as a tender.
You Almost Never Hear of Submarines Other Than the Hunley. Well, the North Had One As Well. --Old B-Runner
Showing posts with label USS Alligator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Alligator. Show all posts
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Friday, August 17, 2012
USS Alligator: The Union's Submarine-- Part 2
MID-JULY 1862--
After assuming command of the submarine, Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge traveled to the New York Navy Yard to recruit volunteers from the receiving ship USS North Carolina (the old ship-of-the-line). Expecting no success, he is surprised when so many volunteer and has to choose from among them.
AUGUST 6, 1862
Selfridge and crew take the Alligator on its first voyage. The results of this and others are included in Selfridge's critical report, which ends his association with the Alligator. He is given command of the uSS Cairo of the Mississippi River Squadron. His fourteen hand-picked crewmen accompany him.
The Alligator's biggest problem according to Selfridge was its oar propulsion system. De Villerei's adoption of oars was odd, since the original submarine he sailed down the Delaware River used a screw propeller.
Most Folk Don't Know the US Navy Had Its Own Submarine. --Old B-Runner
After assuming command of the submarine, Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge traveled to the New York Navy Yard to recruit volunteers from the receiving ship USS North Carolina (the old ship-of-the-line). Expecting no success, he is surprised when so many volunteer and has to choose from among them.
AUGUST 6, 1862
Selfridge and crew take the Alligator on its first voyage. The results of this and others are included in Selfridge's critical report, which ends his association with the Alligator. He is given command of the uSS Cairo of the Mississippi River Squadron. His fourteen hand-picked crewmen accompany him.
The Alligator's biggest problem according to Selfridge was its oar propulsion system. De Villerei's adoption of oars was odd, since the original submarine he sailed down the Delaware River used a screw propeller.
Most Folk Don't Know the US Navy Had Its Own Submarine. --Old B-Runner
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
USS Alligator: The Union's Submarine-- Part 1
From the Civil War Submarine/Naval Chronology. A really handy site listing events in both services in different colors so it makes it real easy to distinguish from them. Quite a bit was going on with the USS Alligator around this time, 150 years ago.
JULY 4, 1862-- The tug Fred Kopp leaves the James River, Virginia, and tows the Alligator to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. On the same day, the USS Maratanzas captures the CSS Teaser and found on board detailed plans for the new CSS Virginia II, which is nearing completion. The Alligator is immediately recalled Washington Navy Yard, but its civilian crew declines the mission.
MID-JULY-- The Alligator is at the Wsahington Navy Yard (you have to wonder if President Lincoln came down to look at it as he was always interested in new technology and this was definitely something new. After all, he was looking at the Rafael gun in August 1862.
Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge, the hero of the USS Cumberland--CSS Virginia battle (and, later, sinker of ships), has been appointed to command the submarine.
Selfridge Was Especially Hard on Ships Beginning With the Letter "C." --Old B-Runner
JULY 4, 1862-- The tug Fred Kopp leaves the James River, Virginia, and tows the Alligator to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. On the same day, the USS Maratanzas captures the CSS Teaser and found on board detailed plans for the new CSS Virginia II, which is nearing completion. The Alligator is immediately recalled Washington Navy Yard, but its civilian crew declines the mission.
MID-JULY-- The Alligator is at the Wsahington Navy Yard (you have to wonder if President Lincoln came down to look at it as he was always interested in new technology and this was definitely something new. After all, he was looking at the Rafael gun in August 1862.
Lt. Thomas O. Selfridge, the hero of the USS Cumberland--CSS Virginia battle (and, later, sinker of ships), has been appointed to command the submarine.
Selfridge Was Especially Hard on Ships Beginning With the Letter "C." --Old B-Runner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)