Due to ironclad battleship design in the 1870s and 1880s, Secretary of War William Endicott lobbied for a new system of coastal defense. In 1890, a casemate was added alongside the fort. Technicians in this reinforced bunker could electronically fire off underwater mines strung across the Potomac.
New offensive armament was also installed. New 12-inch mortars were installed at Battery Meigs which could direct a plunging fire at the thinly protected decks of the new warships.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label mortars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mortars. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Monday, October 31, 2016
HMS Terror
A British bomb vessel completed 31 July 1813 and commissioned 7 October 1813. Abandoned in Victoria Strait, Canada 22 April 1848.
Its armament was one 13-inch mortar and one 10-inch one. Commanded by John Sheridan.
Bombarded Stonington, Connecticut in August 1814, at the Battle of Baltimore and Fort McHenry 13-14 September 1814 and was one of those bombs bursting in air ships.
In January 1815 was at Battle of Fort Peter and the attack on St. Marys, Georgia.
After the war, it was used for Arctic exploration until laid up in 1828. After which it saw service in the Mediterranean.
--Brock-Perry
Its armament was one 13-inch mortar and one 10-inch one. Commanded by John Sheridan.
Bombarded Stonington, Connecticut in August 1814, at the Battle of Baltimore and Fort McHenry 13-14 September 1814 and was one of those bombs bursting in air ships.
In January 1815 was at Battle of Fort Peter and the attack on St. Marys, Georgia.
After the war, it was used for Arctic exploration until laid up in 1828. After which it saw service in the Mediterranean.
--Brock-Perry
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Bomb Vessel HMS Volcano (1804)-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Origianally the merchant vessel Heron, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1804 and became the HMS Heron. During the Napoleonic Wars it served as a convoy escort vessel on the Leeward Islands Station.
In 1810 it was converted into a bomb vessel and renamed the HMS Volcano and served during the War of 1812 and participated in the Battle of Baltimore (which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner"). It was sold in 1816.
Commander David Powell Price assumed command of it 6 December 1813. In the summer of 1814, it was sent to North America and joined Sir Alexander Cochrane's fleet off Baltimore harbor. It was one of 19 British vessels that bombarded Fort McHenry. The Volcano and other bomb vessels launched over 1500 bombs. However, only 4 Americans were killed and 24 wounded.
--Brock-Perry
Origianally the merchant vessel Heron, purchased by the Royal Navy in 1804 and became the HMS Heron. During the Napoleonic Wars it served as a convoy escort vessel on the Leeward Islands Station.
In 1810 it was converted into a bomb vessel and renamed the HMS Volcano and served during the War of 1812 and participated in the Battle of Baltimore (which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner"). It was sold in 1816.
Commander David Powell Price assumed command of it 6 December 1813. In the summer of 1814, it was sent to North America and joined Sir Alexander Cochrane's fleet off Baltimore harbor. It was one of 19 British vessels that bombarded Fort McHenry. The Volcano and other bomb vessels launched over 1500 bombs. However, only 4 Americans were killed and 24 wounded.
--Brock-Perry
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
War of 1812 Bomb Vessels-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Also called Bomb Ships and Bomb Ketches. Primary weapon was the mortar bomb.
By the 1800s, British bomb vessels were designed as full-rigged ships with three masts and two mortars. Mortars back then were the only kind of naval armament to fire explosive shells instead of solid shot.
This is where Francis Scott Key got his "Bombs bursting in air."
Bomb vessels were usually accompanied by a tender to carry the ammunition Being assigned to one of these ships, either the tender of bomb vessel was considered to be very dangerous work because of these shells and the reinforcing for the mortar platforms which made the ship unstable.
British bomb vessels were traditionally given the names of volcanoes or a name suggesting an explosive quality.
--Brock-Perry
Also called Bomb Ships and Bomb Ketches. Primary weapon was the mortar bomb.
By the 1800s, British bomb vessels were designed as full-rigged ships with three masts and two mortars. Mortars back then were the only kind of naval armament to fire explosive shells instead of solid shot.
This is where Francis Scott Key got his "Bombs bursting in air."
Bomb vessels were usually accompanied by a tender to carry the ammunition Being assigned to one of these ships, either the tender of bomb vessel was considered to be very dangerous work because of these shells and the reinforcing for the mortar platforms which made the ship unstable.
British bomb vessels were traditionally given the names of volcanoes or a name suggesting an explosive quality.
--Brock-Perry
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