Page 758 COASTAL MONITORS Monitor class (1); MONITOR The principle of the revolving turret equipped with heavy guns was, as John Ericsson himself was first to admit, an old one. However, it remained for Ericsson's engineering genius to give-the principle practical application in the form of MONITOR, the first turreted ironclad warship. The pioneering efforts of Ericsson in the United States and Captain Cowper Coles, R.N., in Great Britain would, after some 80 years of continuing development, culminate in the construction of USS MISSOURI, one of the most sophisticated battleships ever built. At the time of her keel laying in October 1861 MONITOR represented a complete break with traditional naval design. Instead of a standard ship hull MONITOR had a large armored "raft" 172 feet by 43 feet 8 inches supported by a box-like iron hull 124 feet by 34 feet. The "raft" was designed to increase stability in a seaway thereby giving the guns a more stable platform for accurate fire and, also, to protect the hull structure proper from the effects of ramming. Numerous other technical advances were incorporated into MONITOR including forced ventilation of living spaces, an armored pilothouse, and a protected anchor which could be raised without exposing any members of the crew to hostile fire. The contract price for MONITOR was only $275,000, a small investment for the creation of such an important weapons system. It was with good reason that the London Times remarked, following receipt of news of the MONITOR-VIRGINIA engagement: "Whereas we had available for immediate purposes 149 first-class warships, we have now two, these two being the WARRIOR and her sister IRONSIDE [sic, BLACK PRINCE]. There is not now a ship in the English Navy apart from these two, that it would not be madness to trust to an engagement with that little MONITOR." However, to put this observation in proper perspective one must recall that Great Britain then had 13 other ironclads in some phase of construction and that the British ironclads were designed to fight in a seaway and could. Perhaps the single most serious fault of American monitors, and for that matter all monitors, was that they could not fight their main batteries in a seaway. The turret had to be combined with increased freeboard before it was generally accepted in the world's navies. Statistics: Length overall: 172' Extreme beam: 41' 6" Draft: 10' 6" Depth of hold: 11' 4" Designed speed: 9 knots Displacement: 987 tons; 776 tons (old tonnage) [1] Engines: 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines Horsepower: 320 indicated horsepower Boilers: 2 Martin Bunker capacity: 100 tons coal Screws: Single screw, 9' diameter Complement: 49 Armament: 2 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Turret diameter: 20' inside Armor: Turret, 8"; side 4 1/2" MONITOR: Date of contract: 4 October 1861 Launched: 30 January 1862 Commissioned: 25 February 1862, Lt. John L. Worden Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 6 knots PASSAIC class (10); CAMANCHE, CATSKILL, LEHIGH, MONTAUK, NAHANT, NANTUCKET, PASSAIC, PATAPSCO, SANGAMON, WEEHAWKEN. The PASSAIC class were single-turreted monitors designed as enlarged versions of the original MONITOR. As such they were larger in all basic dimensions and incorporated a number of significant improvements. Among these were the substitution of a XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbore for one of the XI-inch carried by MONITOR, the installation of a permanent stack, a pilot house on top of the turret, permanent standing ventilators, and an increase in the thickness of the armor. Contracts for the PASSAIC class were let in the spring of 1862 and the ships, with the exception of CAMANCHE, were launched between 30 August 1862 and 17 January 1863. The lead ship of the class, PASSAIC, was commissioned 5 November 1862 and the last, again with the exception of CAMANCHE, 15 April 1863. CAMANCHE was built at the Jersey City, N.J., yard of Joseph Coldwell by Donohue, Ryan, and Secor, shipped in pieces to San Francisco and there reassembled. She was launched 14 November 1864 and commissioned 24 May 1865. The contract price for each ship was $400,000. Statistics: Length overall: 200' Extreme beam: 46' Draft: 10' 6" Depth of hold: 12' 6" Designed speed: 7 knots Displacement: 1,875 tons; 844 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines Horsepower: 320 indicated horsepower Boilers: 2 Martin Bunker capacity: 150 tons coal (approx.) Screws: Single screw, 12' diameter Complement: 75 (approx.) Armament: 1 XV-inch and 1 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore; CAMANCHE, 2 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores; LEHIGH, PATAPSCO, 1 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbore, 1 150-pdr. Parrott rifle. Turret diameter: 21' inside Armor: Turret, 11"; side, 5" [1] "Old tonnage" was derived from volume by various arbitrary formulas. Page 759 CAMANCHE: Launched: 14 November 1864 [2] Commissioned: 24 May 1865, Lt. Comdr. Charles J McDougal Builder: Hull: Donohue, Ryan and Secor of New York N.Y., at the yard of Joseph Coldwell, Jersey City, N.J. [3] Machinery: Secor & Co. of New York, N.Y. at the Fulton Foundry, Jersey City, N.J. Service speed: 5 knots CATSKILL (15 June 1869 GOLIATH, 10 August 1869 CATSKILL): Launched: 6 December 1862 Commissioned: 29 February 1863, Comdr. George W. Rodgers Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson, hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 4 knots LEHIGH: Launched: 17 January 1863 Commissioned: 15 April 1863, Comdr. John Guest Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson, hull subcontracted to Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pa. Machinery: Subcontracted to I. P. Morris, Towne & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: 4 knots MONTAUK: Launched: 9 October 1862 Commissioned: 17 December 1862, Comdr. John L. Worden Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 5 knots; 8 1/2 knots on trials NAHANT (15 June 1869, ATLAS, 10 August 1869 NAHANT): Launched: 7 October 1862 Commissioned: 29 December 1862, Comdr. John Downes Builder: Hull: Harrison Loring at his City Point Works, South Boston, Mass. Machinery: Harrison Loring at his City Point Works, South Boston, Mass. Service speed: 5 knots NANTUCKET (15 June 1869 MEDUSA, 10 August 1869 NANTUCKET): Launched: 6 December 1862 Commissioned: 26 February 1863, Comdr. Donald McN. Fairfax [2] The reason for the delayed completion of CAMANCHE were several. The contractors were obliged to give portions of the material of the CAMANCHE to aid in the construction of other ironclads then building in New York, and required by the government for immediate use, as the rolling mills of the country were not of sufficient capacity to roll the kinds of iron required for that class of vessel as fast as it was wanted. When the CAMANCHE was ready for shipment to San Francisco, the Government took the principal parts of her engines to replace parts of the engine in WEEHAWKEN, which had broken down at Port Royal. The delay in replacing these parts of the machinery caused the CAMANCHE to arrive in San Francisco in the winter (of 1863) instead of in the spring of that year." Minutes of the Selfridge Board. AQUILA, the ship that carried the disassembled CAMANCHE around Cape Horn, sank at her pier in San Francisco on 16 November 1863, prior to being unloaded. The completion of CAMANCHE was probably delayed for several months by the subsequent salvage operations. [3] Peter Donohue and James F. Ryan were both from San Francisco, Calif. Page 760 Builder: Hull: Atlantic Iron Works, Boston, Mass. Machinery: Atlantic Iron Works, Boston, Mass. Service speed: 5 knots PASSAIC: Launched: 30 August 1862 Commissioned: 25 November 1862, Captain Percival Drayton Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson: hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 6 knots PATAPSCO: Launched: : 27 September l862 Commissioned: 2 January 1863, Comdr. Daniel Ammen Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del. Machinery: Subcontracted to Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del. Service speed: 5 knots SANGAMON (15 June 1869 JASON): Launched: 27 October 1862 Commissioned: 9 February 1863, Comdr. Pierce Crosby Page 761 Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pa. Machinery: Subcontracted to I. P. Morris, Towne & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: 5 knots WEEHAWKEN: Launched: 5 November 1862 Commissioned: 18 January 183, Captain John Rodgers Builder: Hull: Secor & Co., New York, N.Y., at the yard of Joseph Coldwell, Jersey City, N.J. Machinery: Secor & Co., of New York, N.Y., at the Fulton Foundry, Jersey City, N.J. Service speed: 5 knots ROANOKE class (1): ROANOKE ROANOKE was originally one of the proud class of steam frigates which included MERRIMACK. The latter serving as CSS VIRGINIA became the first Confederate ironclad. Shortly after the battle in Hampton Roads between the original MONITOR and VIRGINIA it was decided to convert ROANOKE into a seagoing turreted ironclad. Accordingly she was razeed, her sides and deck were plated, and three Ericsson turrets were placed on board. Theoretically ROANOKE was the most powerful monitor to be commissioned during the Civil War but, although she served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron for many months, she was never regarded as successful. The weight of the three turrets caused her to roll heavily, even in a slight seaway, and the hull was found to be too weak to adequately support them. Accordingly most of ROANOKE's service was as a station or guard ship. It might be argued that ROANOKE was technically not a monitor because of her standard warship hull. However, her revolving turrets an low freeboard made her more like a monitor than any other extant type of warship. Statistics: Length overall: 265' [4] Extreme beam: 52' 6" Draft: 24'3" Depth of hold: Not found Designed speed :10 knots Displacement: Not found; 3,435 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 2 Horizontal direct acting engines Horsepower: Not found Boilers: 4 Martin Bunker capacity: 550 tons coal Screws: Single screw Complement: 350 (approx.) Armament: Forward turret, 1 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbore. 1 10-pdr. Parrott rifle, middle turret, 1 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbore, 1 XI inch Dahlgren smoothbore; after turret, 1 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore, 1150-pdr. Parrott rifle Turret diameter: 21' inside Armor: Turret, 11"; side, 4" [4] The length overall and extreme beam of Roanoke after her conversion have been difficult to establish. A plan of the turret deck found in the National Archives indicated a length overall of 278 feet. However a contemporary lithograph noted her length as 215 feet and her beam as 52 feet 6 inches. As ROANOKE was merely razeed and armor plated the original dimensions of the ship remained approximately the same and for this reason the lithograph dimensions appear reliable. The addition of a ram might have altered the length overall to some extent but in the absence of adequate plan views it is difficult to estimate to what extent. The Scientific American of 21 July 1862 described the ram in the following terms: This beak resembles a huge ax and is formed of plates twenty and a half inches thick thus making nine inches of iron on the front edge." Page 762 ROANOKE [5] Date of contract: Not found Launched: Not applicable Commissioned: 2 June 183, Captain Guert Gansevoort Builder: Novelty Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 6 knots [5] The hull of Roanoke was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard Portsmouth Va. the machinery being constructed by Anderson Delaney & Co., Richmond, Va. She was launched 18 December 1855 and commissioned 4 May 1857. On 20 March 1862 ROANOKE was decommissioned for conversion into a seagoing Ironclad. DICTATOR class (1); DICTATOR DICTATOR and her near sister Puritan were contracted for in the summer of 1862 when the Navy was looking for a monitor which would be a true seagoing ship. DICTATOR was a single turreted, single screw monitor of unprecedented size and cruising range. Only the never completed PURITAN, the four KALAMAZOOs, and DUNDERBERG would have surpassed her in size. In response to complaints from officers commanding monitors the overhang of the armored "raft" was considerably reduced and the raft itself was given finer "ship" lines. The apparent difficulty with the "raft" was that in a seaway the interaction of the ship and the waves tended to separate the raft from the hull, causing leakage. In fact, this is one of the explanations offered for the loss of the original MONITOR off Cape Hatteras on 30-31 December 1862. DICTATOR was designed as a high- speed monitor but, like most of this type, failed to reach her contract speed. The contract price was $2,300,000 for DICTATOR and PURITAN together. Statistics: Length overall: 312' Extreme beam: 60' Draft: 20' 6" Depth of hold: 21' 8" Designed speed: 15 knots Displacement: 4,438 tons; 3,033 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines Horsepower: Not found Boilers: 6 Martin Bunker capacity: 1,000 tons coal Screws: Single screw, 21' 6" diameter Complement: 175 (approx.) Armament: 2 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Turret diameter: 24' inside Armor: Turret, 15"; side, 6" DICTATOR: Date of contract: 28 July 1862 Launched: 2 December 1863 Commissioned: 11 November l864, Captain John Rodgers Builder: Hull: Contract or ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Page 763 Machinery: Machinery subcontracted to Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 9 knots PURITAN class (1); PURITAN The contract for Puritan was let to John Ericsson during the summer of 1862. The Navy indicated that it wanted Puritan to be a double turreted monitor but Ericsson resisted. His reasoning was that on a given displacement the weight involved in constructing a second turret could be better used in increasing armament and armor with the result that a single turreted monitor would always be more powerful than a multiturreted monitor of the same displacement. The counter argument was by concentrating all armament in a single turret Ericsson was taking a chance that a minor mechanical accident in the turret machinery, for example, could put whole ship out of action. Ericsson won the Sight with Navy and the design was altered to his specifications. However, delay in construction and the casting of the XX-inch smoothbores resulted in PURITAN's not being completed by the end of the Civil War. Construction was suspended in 185 and begun again in 1874 under the guise of repairing. When PURITAN was finally completed in 1898 she was a completely different ship from that contracted for in 1862. The original contract price was $2,300,000 for PURITAN and DICTATOR together. Statistics (original design, 1862): [6] Length overall: 340' Extreme beam: 50' Draft: 20' Depth of hold: 21' 8" Designed speed: 15 knots Displacement: 4,912 tons; 3,25 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines Horsepower: Not found Boilers: 6 Martin [6] For the statistics on PURITAN as commissioned in 1896, see New Navy" Monitors, PURITAN class, p. 787; for a further note on her reconstruction, see p. 754. Pages 764-65 (Photos and plans) Page 766 Bunker capacity: 1000 tons coal Screws: Twin screw, 21' diameter Complement: Not found Armament: 2 XX-inch Turret diameter: 26' inside Armor: Turret, 15"; side, 6" PURITAN: Date of contract: 28 July 1862 Launched: 2 July 1864 Commissioned: Never completed Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to John Ericsson; hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Machinery subcontracted to the Allaire Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: No service ONONDAGA class (1); ONONDAGA ONONDAGA was the first double-turreted monitor to be completed for service. After commissioning in March 1864 she was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Operating in the James River ONONDAGA had only one brief skirmish with Confederate ironclads to mark an otherwise uneventful career. Subsequent to a Special Act of Congress the builder, George W. Quintard, was permitted to refund the purchase price to the U.S. Navy and ONONDAGA was returned to him 12 July 1867. Quintard, in turn, sold the ship to the French Navy, in which she served as a coast defense battleship until 1903. The original contract price was $625,000. Statistics: Length overall: 226' [7] Extreme beam: 49' 3" Draft: 12' 10" Depth of hold: 13' 2" Designed speed: 9 knots Displacement: Not found; 1260 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 4 horizontal back acting engines Horsepower: 420 indicated horsepower Boilers: 4 Martin Bunker capacity: 28 tons coal but only sufficient buoyancy for 160 tons Screws: Twin screw, 10' diameter Complement: 150 (approx.) Armament: 2 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 150-pdr. Parrott rifles Turret diameter: Double-turreted, 21' inside Armor: Turret, 11"; side, 5 1/2" ONONDAGA: Date of contract: 2 May 1862 Launched: 29 July 1863 Commissioned: 4 March 184, Captain Melancton Smith [7] The plans and specifications of ONONDAGA indicate that she was to be 226 feet overall, with a beam of 49 feet, 3 Inches. However, Chief Engineer James W. King, USN, in his 1877 report on European navies, described her as being 228 feet, 7 1/2 inches X 51 feet, 2 inches X 13 feet, 2 inches. The latter dimensions are probably more indicative of ONONDAGA as completed. Contractor designed ships appeared to vary more from the original specifications than Navy or Ericsson designs. Page 767 Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to George W. Quintard; hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint. N.Y. Machinery: George W. Quintard at his Morgan Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 7 knots MIANTONOMOH class (4); AGAMENTICUS, MIANTONOMOH, MONADNOCK, TONAWANDA Although the four double-turreted monitors of the MIANTONOMOH class were laid down in 1862 only one, MONADNOCK, was completed in time to see Civil War service. However, following the war both MIANTONOMOH and MONADNOCK were sent on long ocean voyage as a demonstration of their efficiency. The former visited ports of the leading naval powers of Europe during 18 and created generally favorable impression of American warship design. MONADNOCK was transferred to the Pacific coast, reaching San Francisco by rounding Cape Horn. As a class these ships were regarded by American naval officers as the best monitors built during the Civil War and when the "rebuilding" began in 1874-75 these four ship were chosen to be repeated. It should also be noted that apart from the four unfinished KALAMAZOOs this was the only class of monitors to be built in naval shipyards, a favorable reflection on the quality of those yards even during the mid-19th century. Statistics (as commissioned, 1864-65): [8] Length overall: 258' 6" Extreme beam: 52' 9" Draft: 12' 8" Depth of hold: 14' Designed speed: Not found [8] For statistics on the monitors bearing these names as commissioned In 1891-96, see "New Navy" monitors, AMPHITRITE class, p. 787; for a further note on the reconstruction of these ships see p. 754. Page 768 Displacement: 3,400 tons (approx.); 1,564 tons (old tonnage) Engines: AGAMENTICUS and MONADNOCK, 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines; MIANTONOMOH and TONAWANDA, 2 Isherwood horizontal back- acting engines. Horsepower: Not found Boilers: 4 Martin Bunker capacity: 300 tons coal Screws: Twin screw, 10' diameter Complement: 150 (approx.) Armament: 4 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Turret diameter: 23' inside Armor: Turret, 10"; side 5" AGAMENTICUS (15 June 1869 TERROR) Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: 19 March 1863 Commissioned: 5 May 1865, Lt. Comdr. C. H. Cushman Builder: Hull: Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine Machinery: I.P. Morris, Towne & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: 9 knots MIANTONOMOH: Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: 15 August 1863 Commissioned: 18 September 1865, Comdr. Daniel Ammen Builder: Hull: New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y. Machinery: Novelty Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: 6 1/2 knots MONADNOCK: Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: 23 March 1863 Commissioned: 4 October 1864, Captain John M. Berrien Builder: Hull: Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass. Machinery: I.P. Morris, Towne & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: 9 knots TONAWANDA (15 June 1869 AMPHITRITE): Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: 6 May 1864 Commissioned: 12 October 1865, Comdr. William Ronckendorff Builder: Hull: Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa. Machinery: Merrick & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: 6 1/2 knots CANONICUS class (9); CANONICUS, CATAWBA, MAHOPAC, MANAYUNK, MANHATTAN, ONEOTA, SAUGUS, TECUMSEH, TIPPECANOE The ships of the CANONICUS class were the first to incorporate the lessons of combat experience gained during the MONITOR-VIRGINIA clash and the attacks on Charleston as well as the practical ones gained from day-to-day experience with what was virtually an entirely new approach to warship design. Although their outward appearance was very similar to the PASSAICs, the single-turreted monitors of the CANONICUS class represented a major design advance. A protective glacis 5 inches thick and 15 inches high was placed around the base of the turret to prevent the turret from being jammed by a chance hit at its base; side armor was strengthened by the addition of a 4-inch stringer; deadwood aft was cut away in an effort to make the propeller more efficient; and ventilation was improved by the installation of more powerful blowers and a tall permanent vent from the head and galley. Perhaps more significantly, armament was increased to two XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores from the one XV-inch and one XI-inch of the PASSAIC class. The contracts for the CANONICUS class were let in September-October 1863; the first launching of CANONICUS, took place on 1 August 1863 and the last, of MAHOPAC, on 17 May 1864. The five ships which say Civil War service were commissioned between April and September 1864. The contract price for each ship of the class was $460,000. Statistics: Length overall: 225; CATAWBA, 225'; TIPPECANOE, 224'; MAHOPAC, MANHATTAN, TECUMSEH, 223'; Extreme beam: 43' 3"; MAHOPAC, MANHATTAN, TECUMSEH, 43' 4"; CATAWBA, ONEOTA, 43' 3"; TIPPECANOE, 43' 0" Draft: 11' 6" (approx.); MANAYUNK, 12' 6" Depth of hold: 13' 4"; MAHOPAC, MANAYUNK, MANHATTAN, SAUGUS, TECUMSEH, 13' 4"; CATAWBA, ONEOTA, 13' 3" Designed speed: 13 knots Displacement: 2,100 tons; 1,034 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 2 Ericsson vibrating lever engines Horsepower: 320 indicated horsepower Boilers: 2 Stimers Bunker capacity: 150 tons coal (approx.) CANONICUS, 150 tons; SAUGUS, 145 tons; MAHOPAC, 140 tons Screws: Single screw, 13' diameter Complement: 100 (approx.) Armament: 2 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Turret diameter: 21" inside Armor: Turret, 10"; side 5" (plus 4" stringer) CANONICUS (15 June 1869 SCYLLA, 10 August 1869 CANONICUS): Date of contract: 15 September 1862 Launched: 1 August 1863 Commissioned: 16 April 1864, Comdr. Enoch G. Parrott Builder: Hull: Harrison Loring at his City Point Works, South Boston, Mass. Machinery: Harrison Loring at his City Point Works, South Boston, Mass. Service speed: 9 knots on trials Page 769 (Photo and reproduced document) Page 770 CATWABA: Date of contract: 10 September 1862 Launched: 13 April 1864 Commissioned: Never, but completed 10 June 1865; sold to Alex Swift & Co., Cincinnati Ohio in 1868, who in turn sold her to Peru on 2 April 1868; served in the Peruvian Navy as ATAHUALLPA. Builder: Hull: Alex. Swift & Co. and Niles Works, Cincinnati, Ohio Machinery: Alex. Swift & Co., and Niles Works, Cincinnati, Ohio Service speed: Maximum sustained sea speed reported to be 6 knots in Peruvian service MAHOPAC (15 June 1869 CASTOR, 10 August 1869 MAHOPAC): Date of contract: 15 September 1862 Launched: 17 May 1864 Commissioned: 22 September 1864, Comdr. William A. Parker Builder: Hull: Secor and Co., New York, N.Y., at the yard of Joseph Coldwell, Jersey City, N.J. Machinery: Secor and Co., New York, N.Y., at the Fulton Foundry, Jersey City, N.J.; boilers and main engines subcontracted [9] Service speed: At 5/8 power 6.3 knots on trials MANAYUNK: (15 June 1869 AJAX) Date of contract: 15 September 1862 Launched: 18 December 1864 [10] Commissioned: No Civil War service, completed 27 September 1865 Builder: Hull: Snowden & Mason, Pittsburgh, Pa., at their yard in South Pittsburgh Builder: Snowden & Mason, Pittsburgh, Pa., at their facility in Brownsville, Pa. Service speed: 4.5 knots on trial run up the Ohio River [9] Among the boiler and machinery subcontractors were John Dolan & Co., East Brooklyn, N.Y.; Samuel Secor, New York, N.Y.; New Jersey Locomotive Works, Jersey City, N.J.; Atlantic Steam Engine Works, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Lazell, Perkins & Co., Bridgewater, Mass. [10] MANAYUNK was ready to be launched in April 1864; but, according to the builder, the very low state of the Ohio River delayed the launching until December. Page 771 MANHATTAN (15 June 1869 NEPTUNE, 10 August 1869 MANHATTAN): Date of contract: 15 September 1862 Launched: 14 October 1863 Commissioned: 6 June 1864, Comdr. J. W. A. Nicholson Builder: Hull: Perine, Secor & Co., New York, N.Y., at the yard of Joseph Coldwell, Jersey City, N.J. [11] Machinery: Perine, Secor & Co., New York, N.Y., at the Fulton Foundry, Jersey City, N.J.; boilers and main engines subcontracted Service speed: 8 knots on trials [11] The contract was awarded to the new corporate entity of Perrine, Secor & Co., because William Perrine, originally awarded the contract, was unable to show the Navy that he himself had access to the required building facilities. ONEOTA: Date of contract: 10 September 1862 Launched: 21 May 1864 Commissioned: Never, but completed 10 June 1865; sold to Alex. Swift & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1868 who in turn sold her to Peru on 2 April 1868, served in the Peruvian Navy as MANCO CAPAC Builder: Hull: Alex. Swift & Co. and Niles Works, Cincinnati, Ohio Machinery: Alex. Swift & Co., and Niles Works Cincinnati, Ohio Service speed: Maximum sustained sea speed reported to be 6 knots in Peruvian service SAUGUS (15 June 1869 CENTAUR, 10 August 1869 SAUGUS): Date of contract: 13 October 1862 Launched: 16 December 1863 Commissioned: 7 April 1864, Comdr. Edmund R. Colhoun Builder: Hull: Harlan & Hollingsworth & Co., Wilmington Del. Machinery: Harlan & Hollingsworth & Co., Wilmington, Del. Service speed: 8 knots TECUMSEH: Date of contract: 15 September 1862 Launched: 12 September 1863 Commissioned: 19 April 1864, Comdr. Tunis A. M. Craven Builder: Hull: Secor & Co., New York, N.Y., at the yard of Joseph Coldwell, Jersey City, N.J. Machinery: Secor & Co., New York, N.Y., at the Fulton Foundry, Jersey City, N.J.; boilers and main engines subcontracted Service speed: 8 knots on trials TIPPECANOE (15 June 1869 VESUVIUS, 10 August 1869 WYANDOTTE): Date of contract: 15 September 1862; construction commenced 28 September 1862 Launched: 22 December 1864 Commissioned: Never, but completed December 1865; delivered to the U.S. Navy 15 February 1866 Builder: Hull: Miles Greenwood, Cincinnati, Ohio at the shipyard of John Litherbury [12] in Cincinnati Machinery: Miles Greenwood, Cincinnati, Ohio Service speed: Not found [12] Litherbury had previously superintended the construction of four CITY class gunboats built by James B. Eads at Carondolet, Mo. He also undertook the conversion of LEXINGTON, one of the first three Union gunboats on the Ohio river. CASCO Class (20); CASCO, CHIMO, COHOES, ETLAH, KLAMATH, KOKA, MODOC, NAPA, NAUBUC, NAUSETT, SHAWNEE, SHILOH, SQUANDO, SUNCOOK, TUNXIS, UMPQUA, WASSUC, WAXSAW, YAZOO, YUMA. During the summer of 1862 the Navy began the preparation of specifications for a class of "light-draft" monitors which would be able to fight effectively on the shallow bays, sounds, and rivers which bordered much of the Confederacy. Threats such as that later posed by the C.S. Ram ALBERMARLE could not be countered by the conventional monitors with their relatively deep draft. The end product was a twin- screw, single-turreted monitor with a designed draft of slightly over 6 feet. Armor was sacrificed to meet the demands of shallow draft, resulting in the CASCOs being among the most lightly armored American monitors ever built. Perhaps the most radical innovation to be incorporated into the CASCO design was the provision of special ballast tanks which would permit the ships to go into action partially submerged. [13] Contracts for the class were let in the period March-June 1863, delivery of 13 being specified for 6 months after the contract signing. The builders of the remaining seven were allowed 8 months, but were to be paid only $386,000 as against the $395,000 received by the 6-month contractors. [14] Due to delays in the furnishing of plans and constant design changes the ships lagged badly from the start. In the spring of 1864 when CHIMO was launched it became clear that grave errors had been made in the calculations of displacement. CHIMO had only 3 inches freeboard without her turret and stores as opposed to the designed 15 inches ready for sea. Accordingly, it was decided to complete the five most advanced ships, less TUNXIS, as tor- [13] The function of the tanks were described in the Army and Navy Journal of 31 October 1863: The hull of the vessel will be divided, so that in fact there are two distinct hulls, but are fastened together so as to leave a opening of 2 feet between each hull. This space is to bused as a water tank, which, in action, will be fitted with water and add double to secure the vessel against torpedoes and infernal machines." The author might have added that the lower silhouette resulting from flooding the tanks would diminish the chances of the ship taking a hit. [14] The 6-month" ships were CASCO, CHIMO, COHOES, KLAMATH, MODOC, NAPA, NAUBUC, SQUANDO, SUNCOOK, UMPQUA, WAXSAW, YAZOO, and YUMA; the eight-month," ETLAH, KOKA, NAUSETT, SHAWNEE, SHILOH, TUNXIS, and WASSUC. Page 772. pedo boats and to deepen the hulls of the remaining 14 by 22 inches in order to enable them to carry their monitor armament. [15] TUNXIS was completed to the original design, with minor modifications, but proved unsuccessful and was deepened during the winter of 1864-65 at the yard of Wm. Cramp & Son, Philadelphia, Pa. Launch dates of the CASCO class ranged from May 1864 to the middle of 1865 and only eight were completed in time to see commissioned service during the Civil War. Of the eight none saw combat, those ships which were in the war zones generally acting as station or guard ships. [15] The ships selected for conversion to torpedo boats were CASCO, CHIMO, NAPA, NAUBUC, and MODOC. Not even these conversions achieved speeds of over 5 knots and, as such, were virtually useless as torpedo boats. The cost of deepening the remaining 16, including TUNXIS, varied according to the degree of completion at the time the change was ordered. These costs were as follows: COHOES, $89,000, ETLAH, $82,500; KLAMATH, $89,000; KOKA, $58,665,86; NAUSETT, $89,000; SHAWNEE, $90,000; SHILOH, $82,500; SQUANDO, $90,000; SUNCOOK, $87,500; TUNXIS, $115,500; UMPQUA, $85,000; WASSUC, $55,275.60; WAXSAW, $89,140.25; YAZOO, $68,000; YUMA, $89,140.25. Statistics: Length overall: 225' ETLAH, 225' 8"; SQUANDO, 225' 4 1/2"; MODOC, NAUBUC, 225' Extreme beam: 45'; ETLAH, 45' 6"; NAUBUC, 45' 3"; SQUANDO, 45' 1 7/8" MODOC, 45' 1" Draft: 6' 4 1/2" (designed); SQUANDO, 8' 3"; ETLAH, 8'; NAUSETT, 7' 8 3/4"; CASCO, 7' 4"; NAUBUC, 7' 1" (less gun and ordnance stores) [16] Depth of hold: 9'; SQUANDO, 11' 5/8"; MODOC, 9' 1"; NAUBUC, 8' 11" [17] Designed speed: 9 knots Displacement: 1,175 tons; 14 tons (old tonnage); SQUANDO, 1,618 tons, NAUSETT, 1,487 tons Engines: 2 Stimers' direct-acting inclined engines Horsepower: 600 indicated horsepower [16] The draft of CASCO and NAUBUC, while substantially in excess of the designed draft, was less than that of ETLAH, NAUSETT, or SQUANDO because the former did not carry a turret, mounted only one XI-inch, and had reduced deck plating. Also, the addition of 22 inches to the depth of the monitors increased the displacement by 130 tons which, in turn, increased the draft. [17] The depth of hold of SQUANDO is a reflection of the 23-inch deepening of the hull. Page 773. Boilers: 2 Stimers horizontal tubular Bunker capacity: Monitors 130 tons coal (approx.); Torpedo boats 60 tons coal (approx.) [18] Screws: Twin screw 9' diameter Complement: 60 (approx.) Armament: Monitors, 2 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, TUNXIS, 1 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore and 1 150-pdr. Parrott rifle (13 Sep. 1864); torpedo boats, 1 XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbore, CHIMO, 1 150-pdr. Parrott rifle, and Wood-Lay spar torpedo equipment Turret diameter: 20' inside diameter (monitors only) Armor: Turret, 8"; pilothouse, 10" (8" in torpedo boats); side, 3" [18] However, MODOC, a torpedo boat, probably carried between 75 and 80 tons during her trials. The apparent inconsistency can be explained by the fact that the torpedo boats had bunker capacity equal to that of the monitors but that the amount which could be carried safely from the point of view of reserve buoyancy was much less. ONONDAGA was a case in point. CASCO (16 Jun 1869 HERO): Date of contract: 14 March 1863 Launched: 7 May 1864 Commissioned: 4 December 1864, Acting Master Charles A. Crooker Builder: Hull: Atlantic Iron Works, Boston, Mass. Machinery: Atlantic Iron Works, Boston, Mass. Service speed: 5 knots CHIMO (15 Jun 1869 ORION, 10 Aug. 18 PISCATAQUA): Date of contract: 17 March 1863 Launched: 5 May 1864 Commissioned: 20 January 1865, Acting Master John C. Dutch Builder: Hull: Aquilla Adams, Boston, Mass., at his Marine Iron Works Machinery: Aquilla Adams, Boston, Mass. (probably at an engine factory owned by him) Service speed: 4 knots COHOES (16 Jun 1889 CHARYBDIS, 10. Aug. 1889 COHOES): Date of contract: 17 April 1863 Launched: 31 May 1865 Commissioned: Never; but delivered to U.S. Navy at New York Navy Yard 19 January 1865 Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to M. Franklin Merritt, Stamford, Conn.; hull subcontracted to Continental Iron Works, Greenpoint, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Hewes & Philips, Newark, N.J. Service speed: No service ETLAH (15 Jun 1869 HECTATE, 10 Aug. 1869 ETLAH): Date of contract: 24 June 1863 Launched: 3 July 1865 Commissioned: Never; but delivered to U.S. Navy 12 March 1866 Builder: Hull: Charles W. McCord, St. Louis, Mo. Machinery: Charles W. McCord, St. Louis, Mo. Service speed: 5 knots on 12 March 1866 trial KLAMATH (15 Jun 1869 HARPY, 10 Aug. 1869 KLAMATH): Date of contract: 26 March 1863 Launched: 20 April 1885 Commissioned: Never; but delivered to and accepted by U.S. Navy 6 May 1886 Builder: Hull: Alex. Swift & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, at the yard of S. T. Hambleton & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Machinery: Subcontracted to Moore & Richardson, Cincinnati, Ohio Service speed: 5.7 knots on trial KOKA (15 Jun 1889 ARGOS, 10 Aug. 169 KOKA): Date of contract: 24 April 1863 Launched: 18 May 1865 Commissioned: Never; but delivered to U.S. Navy at Philadelphia Navy Yard 28 November 1865 Builder: Hull: Wilcox & Whiting, Camden, N.J. Machinery: Wilcox & Whiting, Camden, N.J. Service speed: No service MODOC (15 Jun 1869 ACHILLES, 10 Aug. 186 MODOC): Date of contract: 4 June 1863 Launched: 21 March 1865 Commissioned: Never; but completed 23 June 1885 Builder: Hull: Jeronomus S. Underhill, New York, N.Y., at the New York Iron Shipyard Machinery: Jeronomus S. Underhill New York, N.Y. Service speed: No service NAPA (15 Jun 1889 NEMESIS, 10 Aug. 1889 NAPA): Date of contract: 2 March 1863 Launched: 26 November 1864 Commissioned: Never; but completed 4 May 1885 Builder: Hull: Harlan & Hollingsworth & Co., Wilmington, Del. Machinery: Harlan & Hollingsworth Co., Wilmington, Del. Service speed: No service NAUBUC (15 Jun 1869 GORGON, 10 Aug. 1869 MINNETONKA): Date of contract: 2 April 1863 Launched: 19 October 1864 Page 774 (Reproduced plans) Page 775 Commissioned: 27 March 18 Acting Mater Gilbert Dayton Builder: Hull: Wilham Perine, New York, N.Y., at his Perine's Union Iron Work, Williamsburgh, N.Y. Machinery: Subcontracted to Dolan & Farron, Williamsburgh, N.Y. Service speed: Not found NAUSETT (16 Jun 1869 AETNA, 10 Aug. 1869 NAUSETT): Date of contract: 10 June 1863 Launched: 26 April 1865 Commissioned: 10 August 1865, Acting Master Wiliiam V. Grozier Builder: Hull: Donald McKay at his shipyard in East Boston, Mass. Machinery: McKay & Aldus, East Boston, Mass. [19] Service speed: 5 knots [19] Donald McKay was an East Boston shipbuilder. His brother Nathaniel and George Aldus operated a boiler factory in East Boston. Interestingly enough, both firms were located on Border Street. McKay & Aldus built about one-half o the motive machinery for NAUSETT but failed to complete it for reasons as yet unknown. SHAWNEE (15 Jun 1869 EOLUS, 10 Aug. 1869 SHAWNEE) Date of contract: 2 April 1863 Launched: 13 March 1865 Commissioned :18 August 1865, Lt. Comdr. Edward P. Williams Builder: Hull: Curtis & Tilden, East Boston, Mass. at their shipyard Machinery: Curtis & Tilden, East Boston, Mass. (probably subcontracted) Service speed: 5.4 knots SHILOH (1 Jun 1889 IRIS): Date of contract: 24 June 1863 Launched: 14 July 1865 [20] Commissioned: Never; but delivered to and accepted the U.S. Navy 12 March 1866 Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to George C. Bestor, Peoria, Ill., hull built at the yard of Charles W. McCord, St. Louis, Mo. [21] Machinery: Subcontracted to Charles W. McCord, St. Louis, Mo. Service speed: No service [20] An attempt was made to launch SHILOH on 3 July 186. However, according to the Inspector, ". . . the bow not being tripped as soon as the stern hung back and threw the stern cradles off the ways. The bow then started, but the stern dragging on the ground began to lag, and the vessel finally stopped at the waters edge with the bow slightly in advance-then by wedging up and cutting off the ends of the ways which supported the vessel she was gradually pushed down the bank by means of hydraulic jacks, and in the morning of the 14th inst. she was afloat, without the slightest injury and scarcely leaking a drop...." [21] Bestor and McCord were virtually partners, building ETLAH and SHILOH under the same roof, making contracts for materials together and so forth. Consequently it does not seem entirely correct to describe them as separate individuals although this has been done for the sake of convenience. They had previously cooperated in the construction of OZARK with McCord building the machinery. SQUANDO (15 Jun 1869 EREBUS. 10 Aug. 1869 ALGOMA): Date of contract: 4 May 1863 Launched: 31 December 1864 Commissioned: 6 June 185, Acting Master George H. Leinas Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to McKay & Aldus, East Boston, Mass.; hull built at the shipyard of Donald McKay, East Boston, Mass. Machinery: McKay & Adlus, East Boston, Mass. Service speed: 4.2 knots SUNCOOK (16 Jun 189 SPITFIRE, 10 Aug. 186 SUNCOOK): Date of contract: 17 March 1863 Launched: 1 February 1865 Commissioned: 27 July 1865, Acting Master L. H. Beattie Builder: Hull: Globe Work, South Boston, Mass. Machinery: Globe Works, South Boston, Mass. Service speed: Not found TUNXIS (15 Jun 1869 HYDRA, 10 Aug. 1869 OTSEGO): Date of contract: 9 March 1863 Launched: 4 June 1864 Commissioned: 12 July 1864, Lt. Comdr. Henry Erben Builder: Hull: Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pa. at their Pennsylvania Iron Works Machinery: Reaney, Son & Archbold, Chester, Pa. Service speed: 4 knots UMPQUA (15 Jun 1869 FURY, 10 Aug. 1869 UMPQUA): Date of contract: 9 March 1863 Launched: 21 December 1865 Commissioned: Never; but completed 7 May 1866 Builder: Hull: Snowden & Mason, Pittsburgh, Pa., at Brownsville, Pa. Machinery: Snowden & Mason, Pittsburgh, Pa. Service speed: No service WASSUC (15 Jun 1869 STROMBOLI, 10 Aug. 189 WASSUC): Date of contract: 2 June 1863 Launched: 25 July 1865 Commissioned: Never; but completed 28 October 1865 Builder: Hull: George W. Lawrence & Co., Portland, Me. at the Lawrence Iron Works [22] Machinery: George W. Lawrence & Co., Portland, Me., at the Lawrence Iron Work Service peed: No service [22] The keel of WASSUC was laid down at the facilities of the Globe Works in South Boston. Mass. However, when the Navy discovered this, work was ordered to be suspended because it had been the Navy Department's intention to spread the ironclad contracts around, undoubtedly as result of political pressure, and Lawrence had been awarded the contract because he was from Portland, Maine. However, Lawrence retained the contract and began work at his own yard in Portland during October 1863, the completed beams, etc. having been shipped to Portland. WAXSAW (15 Jun 1869 NIOBE): Date of contract: 13 March 1863 Launched: 4 May 1865 Commissioned: Never; but completed 21 October 1865 Builder: Hull: A. & W. Denmead & Son, Baltimore, Md. Machinery: A. & W. Denmead & Son, Baltimore, Md. Service speed: No service YAZOO (15 Jun 189 TARTAR, 10 Aug. 189 YAZOO): Date of contract: 2 March 1863 Launched: 8 May l865 Commissioned: Never; but completed 15 December 1865 Builder: Hull: Contract for ship awarded to Merrick & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.; hull subcontracted to Wm. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. Machinery: Merrick & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa. Service speed: No service YUMA (15 Jun 1869 TEMPEST, 10 Aug. 1869 YUMA): Date of contract: 26 March 1683 Launched: 30 May 1865 Commissioned: Never; but delivered to and accepted by U.S. Navy; May 1866 Page 776 Builder: Hull: Alex. Swift & CO., Cincinnati, Ohio at the yard of S. T. Hambleton & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Machinery: Subcontracted to Moore & Richardson, Cincinnati, Ohio Service speed: No service KALAMAZOO class (4); KALAMAZOO, PASSACONAWAY, QUINSIGAMOND, SHACKAMAXON The four ships of the KALAMAZOO class were the largest warships of any type ordered by the U.S. Navy during the Civil War (with the exception of DUNDERBERG) although specifications were drafted for a 10,000 ton casemate battleship. Intended to fight their four XV-inch guns in a seaway the KALAMAZOOs were the closest that the U.S. Navy came to including armored oceangoing "battleships" until the 1890's. Despite numerous assertions to the contrary in the American press the KALAMAZOO and, possibly, the four ships of the MIANTONOMOH type were the only monitors that could have fought contemporary European warships on equal terms outside protected coastal areas. The contract price, for machinery only, was $580,000 for KALAMAZOO and QUINSIGAMOND and $590,000 for PASSACONAWAY and SHACKAMAXON. Construction on all four ships proceeded but slowly during the Civil War and construction was suspended in the fall of 1865, never to resume. Being built with improperly seasoned timber and left exposed to the elements the ships gradually rotted and were eventually broken up on the stocks, none of the four ever having been launched. Statistics: Length overall: 345' Extreme beam: 56' 8" Draft: 17' 6" Depth of hold: 18' 10" Designed speed :10 knots Displacement: 5,660 tons; 3,220 tons (old tonnage) Engines: 4 horizontal, direct-acting engines (2 sets) Horsepower: Not found Boilers: 8 Martin Bunker capacity: Not found Screws: Twin crew, 15' diameter Complement: Not found Armament: 4 XV-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Turret diameter: 24' inside Armor: Turret, 15"; side, 6" [23] [23] The side armor consisted of two layers of rolled 3-inch wrought iron plates. The plating for PASSACONAWAY was ordered from M. K. Moorhead & Co. of Pittsburgh. Pa. KALAMAZOO (15 June 1869 COLOSSUS): Date of contract: Not applicable [24] Launched: Never; broken up on the stocks in 1884 Commissioned: Never Builder: Hull: New York Navy Yard, Williamsburg, N.Y. Machinery: Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: No service [24] Contracts for machinery, armor plating, and the turrets were let during 1863. The work allotted to civilian contractors was practically complete at the time work was suspended. PASSACONAWAY (15 June 1869 THUNDERER, 10 August 1869 MASSACHUSETTS): Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: Never; broken up on the stocks in 1884 Commissioned: Never Builder: Hull: Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine Machinery: Delameter Iron Works, New York, N.Y. Service speed: No service QUINSIGAMOND (16 June 1869 HERCULES, 10 August 1869 Oregon): Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: Never; broken up on the stocks in 1884 Commissioned: Never Builder: Hull: Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass. Machinery: Atlantic Iron Works, Boston, Mass. Service speed: No service SHACKAMAXON (15 Jun 1869 HECLA, 10 Aug. 1869 NEBRASKA) Date of contract: Not applicable Launched: Never; broken up on the stocks in 1874 Commissioned: Never Builder: Hull: Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa. Machinery: Pusey, Jones & Co., Wilmington, Del. Service speed: No service