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1814 AD (search for this): entry naval-ships
and of a stone upon a window-pane: the one goes through clean, the other crashes. The smashing of the carronades, when fully realized, was worse than penetration, and was greatly dreaded; but, on the other hand, a ship which feared them in an opponent might keep out of their range. This expedient was so effective that carronades, which did great damage until their tactics were understood, gradually fell into disfavor. Nevertheless, they remained in use till after the peace of 1815. In 1814 the battery of the United States steamship Essex was chiefly carronades, and their inadequate range was a large factor in her defeat. At the period in question guns of all sorts fired only non-explosive projectiles, solid or hollow shot. The destructive shell of the present day was used only by pieces called mortars, in vertical firing, which will be spoken of further on. Such were not mounted on the ships of the fleet generally, nor used against shipping, except when packed in a small ha
1815 AD (search for this): entry naval-ships
m in an opponent might keep out of their range. This expedient was so effective that carronades, which did great damage until their tactics were understood, gradually fell into disfavor. Nevertheless, they remained in use till after the peace of 1815. In 1814 the battery of the United States steamship Essex was chiefly carronades, and their inadequate range was a large factor in her defeat. At the period in question guns of all sorts fired only non-explosive projectiles, solid or hollow shcame an artillery duel. Contest of armor and projectile. The modern contest began with the introduction of horizontal shell fire in the third decade of the century. This term must be explained. It has been said that all ships' guns up to 1815 threw non-explosive projectiles. In practice this is true; although Nelson alludes to certain shell supplied to him for trial, which he was unwilling to use because he wished not to burn his prizes, but to take them alive. A shell is a hollow pr
1848 AD (search for this): entry naval-ships
and the flame not impossibly setting woodwork on fire. The destructiveness of shell from ordinary guns was so obvious, especially for forts to use against wooden ships, that the difficulties were gradually overcome, and horizontal shell fire was introduced soon after the cessation of wars allowed men time for thought and change. But although the idea was accepted and the fact realized, practice changed slowly, as it tends to do in the absence of emergency. In the attack on Vera Cruz, in 1848, Farragut was present, and was greatly impressed, as with a novelty, by the effect of what he called the shell shot, a hybrid term which aptly expresses the transition state of men's minds at the time. The Crimean War followed, and in 1854 the wooden steamships-of-the-line of the allies, vessels identical in fighting characteristics with those of Trafalgar, attempted to silence masonry works at Sebastopol. Though the disaster was not so great, the lesson of Sinope was reaffirmed. Louis N
1854 AD (search for this): entry naval-ships
re was introduced soon after the cessation of wars allowed men time for thought and change. But although the idea was accepted and the fact realized, practice changed slowly, as it tends to do in the absence of emergency. In the attack on Vera Cruz, in 1848, Farragut was present, and was greatly impressed, as with a novelty, by the effect of what he called the shell shot, a hybrid term which aptly expresses the transition state of men's minds at the time. The Crimean War followed, and in 1854 the wooden steamships-of-the-line of the allies, vessels identical in fighting characteristics with those of Trafalgar, attempted to silence masonry works at Sebastopol. Though the disaster was not so great, the lesson of Sinope was reaffirmed. Louis Napoleon, a thoughtful man though scarcely a man of action, had foreseen the difficulty, and had already directed the construction of five floating batteries which were to carry armor. Before the war ended these vessels attacked the forts at K
1876 AD (search for this): entry naval-ships
for the United States lapsed into naval somnolence after the war—and it was carried irreflectively into vessels of huge dimensions whose hulls rose much above the water. Weight for weight, the power of the gun outstripped the resistance of armor, and it soon became evident that even in a large ship perfect protection could be given only to a part of the structure. Passing over intermediate steps, the extreme and final development of the monitor idea was reached in the Inflexible, planned in 1876 by the British admiralty, built in the following years, and still in service. This vessel was of 11,880 tons displacement. She was 320 feet long, and of that length only the central 110 feet had protection, but that was by armor 2 feet thick, while armored partitions extended from each end of this side belt across the vessel, forming a box 110 feet long by 74 broad. Within this box were two turrets, each with 16 inches of armor, and carrying two guns which threw a shell of a ton weight. T
David G. Farragut (search for this): entry naval-ships
Naval ships. Capt. Alfred Taylor Mahan (q. v.), author of The influence of sea power upon history; Life of Admiral Farragut; The interest of the United Slates in sea power, etc., writes as follows: In the conditions of naval warfare the nineteenth century has seen a revolution unparalleled in the rapidity of the transition and equalled in degree only by the changes which followed the general introduction of cannon and the abandonment of oars in favor of sails for the propulsion of shed soon after the cessation of wars allowed men time for thought and change. But although the idea was accepted and the fact realized, practice changed slowly, as it tends to do in the absence of emergency. In the attack on Vera Cruz, in 1848, Farragut was present, and was greatly impressed, as with a novelty, by the effect of what he called the shell shot, a hybrid term which aptly expresses the transition state of men's minds at the time. The Crimean War followed, and in 1854 the wooden s
Alfred Taylor Mahan (search for this): entry naval-ships
Naval ships. Capt. Alfred Taylor Mahan (q. v.), author of The influence of sea power upon history; Life of Admiral Farragut; The interest of the United Slates in sea power, etc., writes as follows: In the conditions of naval warfare the nineteenth century has seen a revolution unparalleled in the rapidity of the transition and equalled in degree only by the changes which followed the general introduction of cannon and the abandonment of oars in favor of sails for the propulsion of ships-of-war. The latter step was consequent, ultimately, upon the discovery of the New World and of the sea-passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage to those distant regions was too long and the remoteness from ports of refuge too great for rowing galleys, a class of vessels whose construction unfitted them for developing great size and for contending with heavy weather. The change of motive power made possible and entailed a different disposition of the fighting power, the main
Louis Napoleon (search for this): entry naval-ships
48, Farragut was present, and was greatly impressed, as with a novelty, by the effect of what he called the shell shot, a hybrid term which aptly expresses the transition state of men's minds at the time. The Crimean War followed, and in 1854 the wooden steamships-of-the-line of the allies, vessels identical in fighting characteristics with those of Trafalgar, attempted to silence masonry works at Sebastopol. Though the disaster was not so great, the lesson of Sinope was reaffirmed. Louis Napoleon, a thoughtful man though scarcely a man of action, had foreseen the difficulty, and had already directed the construction of five floating batteries which were to carry armor. Before the war ended these vessels attacked the forts at Kinburn, which they compelled to surrender, losing, themselves, no men except by shells that entered the gun ports. Their armor was not pierced. Horizontal shell fire had called for iron armor, and the two, as opposing factors, were now established in th
Knute Nelson (search for this): entry naval-ships
w degrees before and abaft the broadside —while your own could. If this also was impossible, the contestants lay side to side at a greater or less distance, and the affair became an artillery duel. Contest of armor and projectile. The modern contest began with the introduction of horizontal shell fire in the third decade of the century. This term must be explained. It has been said that all ships' guns up to 1815 threw non-explosive projectiles. In practice this is true; although Nelson alludes to certain shell supplied to him for trial, which he was unwilling to use because he wished not to burn his prizes, but to take them alive. A shell is a hollow projectile filled with powder, the idea of which is that upon reaching the enemy it will burst into several pieces, each capable of killing a man, and the flame not impossibly setting woodwork on fire. The destructiveness of shell from ordinary guns was so obvious, especially for forts to use against wooden ships, that the
Sinope (search for this): entry naval-ships
e attack on Vera Cruz, in 1848, Farragut was present, and was greatly impressed, as with a novelty, by the effect of what he called the shell shot, a hybrid term which aptly expresses the transition state of men's minds at the time. The Crimean War followed, and in 1854 the wooden steamships-of-the-line of the allies, vessels identical in fighting characteristics with those of Trafalgar, attempted to silence masonry works at Sebastopol. Though the disaster was not so great, the lesson of Sinope was reaffirmed. Louis Napoleon, a thoughtful man though scarcely a man of action, had foreseen the difficulty, and had already directed the construction of five floating batteries which were to carry armor. Before the war ended these vessels attacked the forts at Kinburn, which they compelled to surrender, losing, themselves, no men except by shells that entered the gun ports. Their armor was not pierced. Horizontal shell fire had called for iron armor, and the two, as opposing factors
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