USS Water Witch (1845)

USS Water Witch (1845)

USS "Water Witch" (1845) was a steamer designed and constructed by the U.S. Navy as an experimental improved version of its current steam-powered ships which were not considered as efficient as they should be.

The first "Water Witch", a steamer built in 1844 and 1845 at the Washington Navy Yard, saw little active service. She was originally constructed to serve as a water supply vessel for the Norfolk, Virginia, station, but she was not used for that purpose because her draft was too deep for her to pass through the locks of the Dismal Swamp Canal to obtain fresh water. Consequently, she was fitted as a harbor vessel and tug.

"Water Witch" used to test the Hunter Wheel

However, her unique, but poorly conceived, propulsion Hunter Wheel system caused her to fail in that mission as well. In order to rid steamers of their vulnerable above-water paddle wheel housings and to increase their broadside weight, Lt. W. W. Hunter had devised and patented a system of placing the wheels inside the hull of the ship at a right angle to the keel making their rotations horizontal rather than vertical. The paddles extended their full length outside of the hull for maximum contact with the water for propulsive purposes; and, inside the hull, they were encased by a cofferdam which kept the water from entering the ship proper. Unfortunately for Lt. Hunter, the wheels lost much of their power pushing water through the encased area inside the hull, forfeiting between 50 and 70 percent of their potential power.

Termination of test and conversion to service as a “new” ship

That fact was recognized before the ship had served a year, so she was condemned and sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she had arrived sometime before 21 November 1845. Her modifications there were so extensive that, in spite of the fact that she retained her name, the new creation is regarded as a second, distinct ship.

Sources

See also

* United States Navy
* American Civil War

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w3/water_witch-i.htm Water Witch]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • USS Water Witch (1847) — was a steamer in the service of the United States Navy. She participated in the Mexican American War which lasted from 1846 to 1848.The second Water Witch was a modification of the hull of the first (USS Water Witch (1845). She entered the… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Water Witch — Three ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Water Witch .* The first Water Witch was a steamer built in 1844 and 1845 * The second Water Witch was a modification of the hull of the first, launched in 1847. Her machinery went to the… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Dolphin (1836) — The third USS Dolphin was a brig in the United States Navy. Her plans were the basis of other brigs of that time. She was named for the aquatic mammal.She was launched on 17 June 1836 at New York Navy Yard, and commissioned on 6 September 1836.… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Union (1841) — was a steamer designed and constructed by the U.S. Navy as an experimental improved version of its current steam powered ships which were not considered as efficient as they should be. Union was laid down at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth,… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Potomac (1822) — The first USS Potomac was a frigate in the United States Navy. Potomac was laid down by the Washington Navy Yard in August 1819, was launched March 1822. Fitting out was not completed until 1831, when Captain John Downes assumed command as first… …   Wikipedia

  • Hunter Wheel — The Hunter Wheel was a device intended to improve the efficiency of propulsion in U.S. Navy steam operated ships in the late 1830 s and early 1840 s. At the time, as ships were transitioning from sail to steam engine power, the understanding of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of United States Navy ships, W — W Wa* USS W. A. Edwards (DD 619) * USS W. F. Babcock (1882) * USS W. F. Marty (SP 1145) * USS W. L. Bartlett (1861) * USS W. L. Messick (SP 322) * USS W. L. Steed (ID 3449) * USS W. S. Cahill (SP 493) * USS W. S. Sims (FF 1059) * USS W. T. James… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Schiffe der United States Navy/W — Schiffe der United States Navy A B …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • William Shubrick — Infobox Military Person name = William Bradford Shubrick lived = 31 October 1790 – 27 May 1874 placeofbirth = South Carolina placeofdeath = Washington, D.C. caption = nickname = allegiance = United States of America serviceyears = 1806–1861 rank …   Wikipedia

  • Bateau à roues à aube — Bateau à roues à aubes Le Natchez sur le Mississippi est un bateau de type sternwheeler. Un bateau à roues à aubes (paddle steamer) est un bateau à vapeur à fond plat et à faible tirant d eau (par opposition au navire océanique à fort tirant) qui …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”