CSS Scorpion
| History | |
|---|---|
 Confederate States | |
| Name | Scorpion |
| In service | Late 1864 |
| Fate | Abandoned and captured |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Squib-class torpedo boat |
| Length | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Beam | 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) |
| Depth of hold | 3 feet 9 inches (1.14 m) |
| Armament | 1x spar torpedo |
| Armor | Thin iron plates |
CSS Scorpion was a
tender CSS Drewry
, which then exploded. The force of the explosion swept Scorpion out of control downriver. An attempt to rescue her that night failed, and she was captured by Union forces.
Construction and characteristics
During the American Civil War, the Union blockade was slowly destroying the economy of the rebelling Confederate States of America. The first use of torpedo boats in attempting to break the blockade came in October 1863. The attack damaged a Union vessel, and the partial success led the Confederates to build additional torpedo boats. Multiple designs were used, including a group known as the Squib-class built at Richmond, Virginia. Lieutenant Hunter Davidson playing a significant role in the design.[1]
CSS Scorpion, one of the Squib-class, was constructed in late 1864, and was 46 feet (14 m) long, had a
oscillating condensing engines, which had a 7-inch (18 cm) diameter cylinder and a 6-inch (15 cm) stroke, as well a single boiler. According to a Union engineer, she could go at "a fair speed for a boat of her kind".[4] Her crew of five or six[5] operated steer gear that was located towards the front of the vessel.[4] Her armament was a single spar torpedo mounted to a spar shaft that measured 18 feet (5.5 m)[2] or 16 feet (4.9 m) long.[6] The spar could be raised or lowered by the ship's crew using a chain and tackle system.[7] Thin plates of iron served as armor on the ships's sides.[5]
Service history
After construction, Scorpion entered Confederate service with the
tenders. Scorpion was towed by the tender CSS Torpedo, which was in turn lashed to the ironclad CSS Virginia II.[10] Moving during the night, the Confederate vessels passed a Union shore position known as Fort Brady, which fired upon them.[11] At around 09:00, the Confederate vessels reached Union obstructions in the river at Trent's Reach.[9]
Scorpion was then sent forward to perform
Drummond light, the efforts to rescue the vessel were abandoned.[13] She was later captured by Union forces,[2][15] and may have been burned.[3][16]
References
- ^ Pry & Zeitlin 1984, pp. 384–385.
- ^ a b c d "Scorpion". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ a b Silverstone 1989, p. 219.
- ^ a b Campbell 2000, p. 105.
- ^ a b Pry & Zeitlin 1984, p. 385.
- ^ Coski 2005, pp. 125–126.
- ^ Coski 2005, p. 126.
- ^ Coski 2005, p. 125.
- ^ a b Campbell 2000, p. 111.
- ^ Coski 2005, p. 198.
- ^ a b Coski 2005, pp. 199–202.
- ^ a b Coski 2005, pp. 201–203.
- ^ a b Campbell 2000, p. 114.
- ^ Campbell 2000, p. 112.
- ^ a b Coski 2005, p. 204.
- ^ Pry & Zeitlin 1984, p. 392.
Sources
- Campbell, R. Thomas (2000). Hunters of the Night: Confederate Torpedo Boats in the War Between the States. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press. ISBN 1-57249-202-3.
- Coski, John M. (2005) [1996]. Capital Navy: The Men, Ships, and Operations of the James River Squadron. New York: Savas Beatie. ISBN 978-1-932714-15-9.
- Pry, Peter; Zeitlin, Richard (1984). "Torpedo Boats: Secret Weapons of the South". Warship International. 21 (4): 384–393.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (1989). Warships of the Civil War Navies. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-783-8.
