shipsrigging

The unique dynamite gun cruiser, USS Vesuvius (1888). See: hamptonroadsnavalmuseum.blogspot.com/2015/06/uss-vesuvius... USS Vesuvius was an experimental ship in the late 1800s when the US Navy was developing its new steel navy. Built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the ship was commissioned in 1890. The hope was that this small ship would have a formidable enough armament that it would be a cost effective threat to enemy battleships. At over 21 knots, speed was its best defensive measure. The most unique aspect of this vessel were the three 15-inch guns protruding from the forward deck. They fired explosive shells which consisted of several hundred pounds of "desensitized blasting gelatin" in a metal casing. The casing was fitted with a wood sabot to ensure a seal in the barrel, which was vital as the volatile composition of these shells only allowed compressed air to be used as a propellant. Although the dynamite shell had great potential, and there was a stealth aspect to firing without gunpowder, the ship had some severe flaws for naval warfare. It had to be pointed where it wanted to fire, and its range was limited to less than 2 miles (controlled by air pressure). See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vesuvius_(1888)

Columbian Naval Parade, have to look that one up. Thanks for posting this!

See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_cruiser_Jean_Bart