| gert1746 | 26 Feb 2010 12:10 p.m. PST |
I have two vastly different sources for City Class (Cairo) Ironclads and the USS Essex. Source 1: 4-5 Knots Source 2: 8 knots Anyone know which is correct? Thanks,
Gert |
Frederick  | 26 Feb 2010 12:46 p.m. PST |
Hmmm – steam powered paddle wheelers, as I recall I believe that 4 – 5 knots is a reasonable speed – 8 knots might be a bit optimistic I have some references at home – will check, but I think that Source 1 is correct |
| vojvoda | 26 Feb 2010 2:11 p.m. PST |
Ask Toby over at Thoughbred miniatures. He is an excellent source. I do not have any reference works on the subject anymore so I have no data to draw on. Check with him, his the the SME.
VR
James Mattes |
| Dances with Clydesdales | 26 Feb 2010 4:23 p.m. PST |
"Silverstone" lsits Cairo Class at 9 mph and Essex at 5.5 knots. "Warships of the Civil War Navies: Paul H. Silverstone: Naval Institute Press. ISBN:0-87021-783-6. |
| Houdini | 26 Feb 2010 5:02 p.m. PST |
Osprey – Union River Ironclads lists City Class (Cairo) speed as 9 knots. |
| Houdini | 26 Feb 2010 5:04 p.m. PST |
Oh and Essex is listed as 5.5 knots. |
| KSmyth | 26 Feb 2010 7:28 p.m. PST |
Donald Canney's classic books on the Old Steam Navy: The Ironclads rates the City class gunboats at 5.5 knots. However, when the side plating was removed from them during the Red River campaign they gained another 2 to 2.5 knots. K. |
| Ditto Tango 2 1 | 26 Feb 2010 9:15 p.m. PST |
Personally, I'd take Silverstone's figures without a lot of question.
--
Tim |
| Shagnasty | 26 Feb 2010 9:35 p.m. PST |
Has a lot to do with whether they're going upstream or down. |
The G Dog  | 26 Feb 2010 10:40 p.m. PST |
The lesser of the two is a good conservative bet. |
| Weisenwolf | 01 Mar 2010 4:19 a.m. PST |
I have been looking at this issue too and have concluded the following: Most of the City class at 8knots but Cairo herself 9knots and Cincinnati only 7knots. Essex varies depending on period as was rebuilt sveral times but with full armour 5.5-6knots and Benton around 5-5.5knots. If this is for wargame purposes I would suggest you find out the range of possibilities and pick whatever you like; its a good way of balancing out ships abilities. |
| Weisenwolf | 04 Mar 2010 6:22 a.m. PST |
Oops; its the Corondolet that is only 7 knots…… |
| 138SquadronRAF | 05 Mar 2010 8:08 a.m. PST |
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| 138SquadronRAF | 05 Mar 2010 9:41 a.m. PST |
Oops – DANFS is a volunteer project, I always assumed it was official |
| Master Caster | 06 Mar 2010 6:44 a.m. PST |
Shagnasty is so correct. So much depended on the current's changing speed and eddies. Flood waters and spring freshets had a lot to do with constantly changing these variables. The other thing I'd like to point out is that river speeds were generally – but not always – listed as mph and determined by the distance between two known points on the river. Only a few heavy Union river ironclads such as Tuscumbia and Choctaw had touble stemming the normal currents that I can recall. Most others had no problem going upstream albeit slower and, at times, more time under fire. Other variables also came into play such as quality of coal, condition of boilers and the competency of engine room personnel.
As a side topic, currents on rivers and tides in bays – both incoming and outgoing tides – played a very decisive role in a lot of actions during the ACW that a lot of gaming I've seen and experienced does not take this key factor into consideration or have the slightest influence on strategy or play in the scenario. |
