I have visited HMS Warrior on several occasions and, although she never fired a shot in anger, I have often wondered how she would have fared. To my shame, I must admit that I previously knew nothing of the Alabama or her history.
ALABAMA
ScSlp:
t. 1,050;
l. 220';
b. 31'8";
dph. 17'8";
dr. 14';
s. 13 k.;
cpl. 145;
a. 6 32-pdrs., 1 110-pdr., 1 68-pdr.
CSS ALABAMA was a screw sloop-of-war built at Lairds dockyard,
Liverpool, England, in 1862 for the Confederacy. The famous Hull "290"
was launched under the name ENRICA, put to sea from Liverpool on 29 July
1862 and proceeded to Porto Praya in the Azores where Captain R. Semmes,
CSN, and her other officers boarded and fitted her out as a cruiser. She
was commissioned at sea off Terceira, Azores on 24 August as the
Confederate cruiser ALABAMA.
Semmes spent the next 2 months in the North Atlantic where he captured
and burned some 20 ships, including a dozen whalers. From there he
departed for the Newfoundland Banks to intercept American grain ships
bound for Europe, and thence to the West Indies and the coast of Texas
where he sank HATTERAS and captured her crew. Cruising along the coast
of Brazil, he used the desolate island of Fernando de Noronha as a base.
Shrewdly calculating the length of time necessary for word of his deeds
to reach the United States Government, Semmes next put in at Cape Town
and sailed for the East Indies where he spent 6 months and destroyed 7
ships before redoubling the Cape en route to Europe. Arriving at
Cherbourg, France, on 11 June 1864, he hoped to be allowed to dock and
overhaul his ship.
As Semmes awaited permission from French authorities, KEARSARGE, Capt.
J. A. Winslow commanding, arrived at Cherbourg, brought there by word of
ALABAMA's presence. KEARSARGE took up a patrol at the harbor's entrance
awaiting Semmes' next move. ALABAMA's log for 15 June 1864 tells
succinctly of her skipper's decision:
"The admiral sent off his aid-de-camp to say to me that he considered my
application for repairs withdrawn upon making application for coal, to
which I assented. We commenced coaling this afternoon. The KEARSARGE is
still in the offing. She has not been permitted to receive on board the
prisoners landed by me, to which I had objected in a letter to the
admiral. Mailed a note yesterday afternoon for Flag-Officer Barron,
informing him of my intention to go out to engage the enemy as soon as I
could make my preparations, and sent a written notice to the U.S.
consul, through Mr. Bonfils, to the same effect. My crew seem to be in
the right spirit, a quiet spirit of determination pervading both
officers and men. The combat will no doubt be contested and obstinate,
but the two ships are so equally matched that I do not feel at liberty
to decline it. God defend the right, and have mercy upon the souls of
those who fall, as many of us must. Barometer low, and weather unusually
cold and blustering for the middle of June."
On 19 June 1864, ALABAMA stood out of Cherbourg Harbor for her last
action. Careful of French neutrality, Winslow took KEARSARGE well clear
of territorial waters, then turned to meet the Confederate cruiser.
ALABAMA opened fire first while KEARSARGE held her reply until the range
had closed to less than 1,000 yards. Steaming on opposite courses the
ships moved around a circle as each commander tried to cross the bows of
his opponent to deliver deadly raking fire. The battle quickly turned
against ALABAMA, for the quality of her long stored powder and shells
had deteriorated while KEARSARGE had been given added protection by
chain cable triced in tiers along her sides abreast vital spaces. One
hour after she loosed her first salvo ALABAMA had been reduced to a
sinking wreck. Semmes struck his colors and sent a boat to KEARSARGE
with a message of surrender and an appeal for help. KEARSARGE rescued
the majority of ALABAMAs survivors, but Semmes and 41 others were
picked up by the British yacht DEERHOUND and escaped in her to England.
In her 21-month cruise to the four corners of the globe, ALABAMA wrought
havoc among United States merchant shipping, taking more than 60 prizes
valued at nearly $6,000,000. The most famous of the Confederate
cruisers, her capture caused the Federal Navy Department to divert
warships from the blockade to intercepting positions at focal points on
the world's trade routes. Northern shipowners were compelled to delay
sailings to pay increased maritime insurance premiums and in many cases,
to transfer ships to foreign registry. ALABAMAs exploits buoyed the
morale of the South during some of its darkest days, and wrote a chapter
of daring in the brief history of the Confederate States Navy.
No shame in that, mate. But now you do know, and that's grounds for real pride of a small accomplishment, which can be compounded by further research and gained knowledge, or if the subject strays from your beaten path can be reserved as a treat when more interesting pursuits have been exhausted.
But I suspect you'd find quite a bit of more than arcane knowledge worthy of the subject's study. And the tangental related material to be of at least some interest as well.
I don't think that is correct. I've posted the stats for the Alabama, and it appears to be a far smaller ship than the Warrior.
Warrior:
Length: 418 feet
Beam: 58 feet
Displacement: 9,210 tons
Draft: 26 feet
Guns: 26 muzzle-loading 68 pounders (31 kgs)
10 breech-loading 110 pounders (50 kgs)
Complement: 705 men
Source: http://www.hmswarrior.org/facts.htm