Her true ownership was concealed by the fiction that she was being built as the Egyptian warship El Tousson. She was to have been named CSS North Carolina upon delivery to the Confederacy. Her sister was built under the false name El Monassir and was to have been renamed CSS Mississippi. In October 1863, a few months after their launch and before they could be completed, the UK Government seized the two ironclads.
In 1864 the Admiralty bought them and commissioned them into the Royal Navy: El Tousson as HMS Scorpion and El Monassir as HMS Wivern. Scorpion had a long Royal Navy career, until she was lost in the North Atlantic in 1903.
North Carolina and her sister were intended, together with other warships, to break the Federal blockade of Confederate coastal cities and to hold some Northern cities for ransom.[1] The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 224 feet 6 inches (68.4 m), a beam of 42 feet 4 inches (12.9 m),[2] and a draught of 17 feet (5.2 m) at deep load. They displaced 2,751 long tons (2,795 t). The hull was divided by 12 watertight bulkheads and the ships had a double bottom beneath the engine and boiler rooms. Their crew consisted of 152 officers and ratings.[3]
The Scorpion-class ships had two horizontal direct-acting steam engines, built by Lairds, each driving a single propeller shaft, using steam provided by four tubular boilers. The engines produced a total of 1,450 indicated horsepower (1,080 kW) which gave the ships a maximum speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph).[3] The ships carried 336 long tons (341 t) of coal, enough to steam 1,210 nautical miles (2,240 km; 1,390 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3] They were barque-rigged with three masts. The funnel was made semi-retractable to reduce wind resistance while under sail.[4]
No ordnance had been ordered by the Confederates before the ships were seized in 1863, but in British service they mounted a pair of 9-inchrifled muzzle-loading guns in each turret. The guns could fire both solid shot and explosive shells.[5] According to Parkes, going from full depression to full elevation supposedly took one hour in smooth water and with an even keel![4]
The Scorpion-class ships had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that was 4.5 inches (114 mm) thick amidships and thinned to 3 inches (76 mm) at the bow and 2.5 inches (64 mm) at the stern. It completely covered the hull from the upper deck to 3 feet 3 inches (0.99 m) below the waterline.[2] The armour protection of the turrets was quite elaborate. The inside of the turret was lined with .5 inches (12.7 mm) of iron boiler plate to which T-shaped beams were bolted. The space between the beams was filled with 10 inches (254 mm) of teak. This was covered by an iron lattice .75 inches (19.1 mm) thick that was covered in turn by 8 inches (203 mm) of teak. The 5.5-inch (140 mm) iron plates were bolted to the outside using bolts that ran through to the interior iron "skin". The area around the gun ports was reinforced by 4.5-inch plates to give a total thickness of 10 inches. The turret roof consisted of T-shaped beams covered by 1-inch (25 mm) iron plates.[6]
Construction and careeredit
H.B. Majesty's steamer Majestic watching the rebel rams in the Mersey, 1863. Tousson, far left.
In early 1864, the Admiralty purchased both for the Royal Navy and named them Scorpion and Wivern. Commissioned in July 1865, Scorpion was assigned to the Channel Fleet until 1869, with time out for a refit that reduced her sailing rig from a bark to a schooner. In late 1869, she moved to Bermuda for coast and harbour defence service. Scorpion remained there for over three decades before being removed from the effective list. Scorpion was sunk as a target in 1901 but raised the next year and sold in February 1903. She was lost at sea while under tow to the U.S., where she was to be scrapped.[7]
Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-8317-0302-4.
Jones, Colin (1996). "Entente Cordiale, 1865". In McLean, David & Preston, Antony (eds.). Warship 1996. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-685-X.
Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-075-4.
Putnam, Arnold A. (1999). "The Building of Numbers 294 & 295: The Laird Rams". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Warship 1999–2000. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-724-4.
Scharf, J. Thomas (1977). History of the Confederate States Navy: From its Organization to the Surrender of its Last Vessel. New York: Fairfax Press. ISBN0-517-23913-2. OCLC 4361326.
Sullivan, David M. (1987). "Phantom Fleet: The Confederacy's Unclaimed European Warships". Warship International. XXIV (1). Toledo, OH: International Naval Research Organization: 12–32. ISSN 0043-0374.
April 12, 2024
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For other ships with the same name see HMS Scorpion HMS Scorpion was an ironclad turret ship built by John Laird Sons amp Company at Birkenhead England She was one of two sister ships secretly ordered from the Laird shipyard in 1862 by the Confederate States of America HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS ScorpionOrdered1862BuilderJohn Laird Sons amp Company BirkenheadLaid downApril 1862Launched4 July 1863Completed10 October 1865FateSunk as target 1901 Refloated 1902 sold for scrap Foundered 17 June 1903General characteristicsTypeIronclad turret shipDisplacement2 751 long tons 2 795 t Length224 ft 6 in 68 4 m p p Beam42 ft 4 in 12 9 m Draught17 ft 5 2 m deep load Installed power1 450 ihp 1 080 kW 4 boilersPropulsion2 shaft 2 direct acting steam enginesSail planBarque riggedSpeed10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph Range1 210 nmi 2 240 km 1 390 mi at 10 kn 19 km h 12 mph Complement153Armament2 twin 9 inch 229 mm muzzle loading riflesArmourBelt 2 4 5 in 51 114 mm Gun turrets 5 5 10 in 140 254 mm Notessister ship HMS WivernHer true ownership was concealed by the fiction that she was being built as the Egyptian warship El Tousson She was to have been named CSS North Carolina upon delivery to the Confederacy Her sister was built under the false name El Monassir and was to have been renamed CSS Mississippi In October 1863 a few months after their launch and before they could be completed the UK Government seized the two ironclads In 1864 the Admiralty bought them and commissioned them into the Royal Navy El Tousson as HMS Scorpion and El Monassir as HMS Wivern Scorpion had a long Royal Navy career until she was lost in the North Atlantic in 1903 Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 ReferencesDesign and description editNorth Carolina and her sister were intended together with other warships to break the Federal blockade of Confederate coastal cities and to hold some Northern cities for ransom 1 The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 224 feet 6 inches 68 4 m a beam of 42 feet 4 inches 12 9 m 2 and a draught of 17 feet 5 2 m at deep load They displaced 2 751 long tons 2 795 t The hull was divided by 12 watertight bulkheads and the ships had a double bottom beneath the engine and boiler rooms Their crew consisted of 152 officers and ratings 3 The Scorpion class ships had two horizontal direct acting steam engines built by Lairds each driving a single propeller shaft using steam provided by four tubular boilers The engines produced a total of 1 450 indicated horsepower 1 080 kW which gave the ships a maximum speed of 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph 3 The ships carried 336 long tons 341 t of coal enough to steam 1 210 nautical miles 2 240 km 1 390 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph 3 They were barque rigged with three masts The funnel was made semi retractable to reduce wind resistance while under sail 4 No ordnance had been ordered by the Confederates before the ships were seized in 1863 but in British service they mounted a pair of 9 inch rifled muzzle loading guns in each turret The guns could fire both solid shot and explosive shells 5 According to Parkes going from full depression to full elevation supposedly took one hour in smooth water and with an even keel 4 The Scorpion class ships had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that was 4 5 inches 114 mm thick amidships and thinned to 3 inches 76 mm at the bow and 2 5 inches 64 mm at the stern It completely covered the hull from the upper deck to 3 feet 3 inches 0 99 m below the waterline 2 The armour protection of the turrets was quite elaborate The inside of the turret was lined with 5 inches 12 7 mm of iron boiler plate to which T shaped beams were bolted The space between the beams was filled with 10 inches 254 mm of teak This was covered by an iron lattice 75 inches 19 1 mm thick that was covered in turn by 8 inches 203 mm of teak The 5 5 inch 140 mm iron plates were bolted to the outside using bolts that ran through to the interior iron skin The area around the gun ports was reinforced by 4 5 inch plates to give a total thickness of 10 inches The turret roof consisted of T shaped beams covered by 1 inch 25 mm iron plates 6 Construction and career edit nbsp H B Majesty s steamer Majestic watching the rebel rams in the Mersey 1863 Tousson far left In early 1864 the Admiralty purchased both for the Royal Navy and named them Scorpion and Wivern Commissioned in July 1865 Scorpion was assigned to the Channel Fleet until 1869 with time out for a refit that reduced her sailing rig from a bark to a schooner In late 1869 she moved to Bermuda for coast and harbour defence service Scorpion remained there for over three decades before being removed from the effective list Scorpion was sunk as a target in 1901 but raised the next year and sold in February 1903 She was lost at sea while under tow to the U S where she was to be scrapped 7 Notes edit Scharf p 784 a b Gardiner p 20 a b c Parkes p 78 a b Parkes p 79 Gardiner p 6 Putnam p 11 HMS Scorpion Navy Historical Center United States Navy Retrieved 19 August 2008 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Scorpion ship 1863 Ballard G A Admiral 1980 The Black Battlefleet Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 924 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Gardiner Robert ed 1979 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1860 1905 Greenwich Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 8317 0302 4 Jones Colin 1996 Entente Cordiale 1865 In McLean David amp Preston Antony eds Warship 1996 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 685 X Parkes Oscar 1990 British Battleships reprint of the 1957 ed Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 075 4 Putnam Arnold A 1999 The Building of Numbers 294 amp 295 The Laird Rams In Preston Antony ed Warship 1999 2000 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 724 4 Scharf J Thomas 1977 History of the Confederate States Navy From its Organization to the Surrender of its Last Vessel New York Fairfax Press ISBN 0 517 23913 2 OCLC 4361326 Sullivan David M 1987 Phantom Fleet The Confederacy s Unclaimed European Warships Warship International XXIV 1 Toledo OH International Naval Research Organization 12 32 ISSN 0043 0374 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Scorpion 1863 amp oldid 1208906683, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
