Future USS Delaware (SSN-791) Accepted By U.S. Navy

From the Oct. 29, 2019, Maritime Executive "Future USS Delaware delivered to the U.S. Navy."

It is the Navy's 18th Virginia-Class nuclear submarine.  Construction on it began in 2013 and it is scheduled for commissioning April 4, 2020.  This is the last of what is called the Block II Virginia-Class submarines.  It is the last of this group.  There will be a Block III group next.

Virginia Class submarines are built to operate in deep waters doing anti-submarine, anti-surface, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, irregular warfare and  mine warfare missions.

It is the seventh ship to bear the name of "The First State."  The first one served in the American revolution, the second one in the Quasi War with France.  The third was burned to prevent her falling into the hands of Confederates and the fourth one served blockade duties during the Civil War.

Little is known about the fifth Delaware, other than it was a screw steamer which had another name before being changed to Delaware on May 15, 1869.  The sixth Delaware was a battleship commissioned April 4, 1910, that served in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

During World War I, she provided convoy protection and participated in Allied naval exercises before being decommissioned in 1923.

Welcome Aboard USS Delaware.  --Old B-Runner

Confirmation of James H. Tomb's Sons-- Part 2:

Papers of James Hamilton Tomb (died after 1900) of Florida include his memoirs of the Civil War  when he was a chief engineering officer in the Confederate Navy; correspondence(partly in Portuguese) while a Brazilian  navy officer, 1866-1867, and recollections and drawings of a torpedo which sank a Brazilian  warship; and  post war correspondence about Civil War naval actions with former Confederate and Union navy officers and other interested persons.

The Civil war papers especially concern Confederate torpedoes and the submarines used  in the attempt to break the Charleston blockade.

Other papers include various records of naval service of his sons, captains William Victor Tomb (died 1941) and James Harvey Tomb (died 1946), including a diary, 1917-1918, of W.T. Tomb while on convoy duty  in the Atlantic during World War I.

O.K.  We have Confirmation.  Both Were the Sons of  James Hamilton Tomb.  --Old B-Runner

Admiral Lee Looking for More Ships in Western Waters

NOVEMBER 23RD, 1864:  Constantly alert to the need to strengthen his squadron for the difficult work of convoying and patrolling the Western Rivers, Rear Admiral Lee on this date dispatched a group of officers on a confidential mission to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh "and other places if necessary, for the purpose of purchasing ten sound, strong, and swift light draft steamers to be converted into gunboats."

Ten were eventually bought, converted and added to the Mississippi Squadron in early 1865.

--Old B-R'er

Union Convoy Problems on the White River

JULY 27TH, 1864:  Col. Lewis B. Parsons, USA, Assistant Quartermaster and Chief of Western River Transportation, wrote Lt.Cmdr. Phelps, US Navy commander on the White River, about the unavailability of sufficient gunboats to convoy needed supply ships: "I am now in receipt of letters from three different officers, urgently enquiring if something can be done to prevent the detention of boats for convoys, in consequence of which, it is extremely difficult to send stores and supplies from Helena, Memphis, and other points....

"I have no doubt everything is being done in your power and consistent with your means, but considering the importance of the subject and the expenditure, is it not advisable to increase the means, so that convoys, if necessary, may be sent as boats arrive?

"If this can not be done, would it not do if two or three gunboats be stationed at different and dangerous points and boats be permitted to proceed without convoys?"

What Parsons was talking about was that supply ships were not allowed to proceed up the river without being in a convoy and protected by Union gunboats.  Often this meant waiting until several ships gathered and a warship found to escort them, causing delays.

Confederates were constantly harassing Union shipping along the western rivers.

--Old B-Runner