The news that the Galena had received her armament and gone to Fortress Monroe has been known for several days, but not allowed to be made public by those controlling the telegraph. As several newspapers in New York and elsewhere have given publicity to the fact we may venture to print the following description of her from the New York Evening Post:
Some very important alterations have been made, by which the strength and power of resistance will be rendered much greater than was at first deemed practicable. The most important of these alterations are, first, the extension of the heavy iron mail over the bow and stern of the boat, instead of common plates, according to the original design; and second the increase to three and a quarter inches in thickness of the mail on the upper wall or shot proof covering of the fighting deck which protects the batteries. This covering slopes inward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and the sheeting was to have been but two inches in thickness. The changes, it is believed, will effectually protect the gunners, and render the vessel impregnable to ordinary projectiles.
The object which it was designed to secure in the construction of this vessel has hitherto been deemed impossible of accomplishment, and the project was therefore, like the building of the monitor, an experiment. The novel proposition, and one that seems whole inconsistent with itself, was made by a citizen of Boston – the well known naval architect, Samuel H. Pook. It was substantially as follows:
That a vessel could be built, two hundred feet in length, thirty-six feet breadth of beam, and of one thousand tons burthen – the size and description of a war vessel of the ordinary construction, which would require a depth of water of about twelve feet – and yet the boat should be strong enough to sustain a shot proof covering, have a draft of water but ten to twelve feet, and contain engines and machinery which would give her a speed of twelve knots per hour – in short, that she would be entirely seaworthy, as perfectly adapted to the purposes of cruising as the “wooden wall” in common use, and, in addition be impenetrable.
To accomplish these objects a hull of peculiar model, designed to effect a greater displacement of water than is ordinarily secured, was built, and upon it four hundred tons of armor have been placed, with entirely successful results. – Experiments have been made with the machinery which justify the expectation that the speed of the vessel will be equal to what was originally anticipated – twelve miles per hour.
At a little distance the appearance of the Galena is smooth and regular, her curve lines and rounded form diminishing her apparent size. A close inspection reveals the joints of the longitudinal plates with which she is covered, but not a bolt head is visible. This is one of the peculiarities of her mail, which is of a new design. By means of flanges and tongues the heads of the bolts are entirely covered and thus a source of weakness in the iron plating generally in use is obviated.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 1
Some very important alterations have been made, by which the strength and power of resistance will be rendered much greater than was at first deemed practicable. The most important of these alterations are, first, the extension of the heavy iron mail over the bow and stern of the boat, instead of common plates, according to the original design; and second the increase to three and a quarter inches in thickness of the mail on the upper wall or shot proof covering of the fighting deck which protects the batteries. This covering slopes inward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and the sheeting was to have been but two inches in thickness. The changes, it is believed, will effectually protect the gunners, and render the vessel impregnable to ordinary projectiles.
The object which it was designed to secure in the construction of this vessel has hitherto been deemed impossible of accomplishment, and the project was therefore, like the building of the monitor, an experiment. The novel proposition, and one that seems whole inconsistent with itself, was made by a citizen of Boston – the well known naval architect, Samuel H. Pook. It was substantially as follows:
That a vessel could be built, two hundred feet in length, thirty-six feet breadth of beam, and of one thousand tons burthen – the size and description of a war vessel of the ordinary construction, which would require a depth of water of about twelve feet – and yet the boat should be strong enough to sustain a shot proof covering, have a draft of water but ten to twelve feet, and contain engines and machinery which would give her a speed of twelve knots per hour – in short, that she would be entirely seaworthy, as perfectly adapted to the purposes of cruising as the “wooden wall” in common use, and, in addition be impenetrable.
To accomplish these objects a hull of peculiar model, designed to effect a greater displacement of water than is ordinarily secured, was built, and upon it four hundred tons of armor have been placed, with entirely successful results. – Experiments have been made with the machinery which justify the expectation that the speed of the vessel will be equal to what was originally anticipated – twelve miles per hour.
At a little distance the appearance of the Galena is smooth and regular, her curve lines and rounded form diminishing her apparent size. A close inspection reveals the joints of the longitudinal plates with which she is covered, but not a bolt head is visible. This is one of the peculiarities of her mail, which is of a new design. By means of flanges and tongues the heads of the bolts are entirely covered and thus a source of weakness in the iron plating generally in use is obviated.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 1
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