CSS Albemarle -- Plymouth NC
N 35° 51.949 W 076° 45.254
18S E 341620 N 3970486
Located on the Roanoke River behind the Port o' Plymouth Museum, East Water Street, Plymouth, NC
Waymark Code: WM82EN
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 01/15/2010
Views: 10
The CSS Albemarle has been called the most successful ironclad of the Civil War. This replica was launched April, 2002 on the banks of the Roanoke River in Plymouth, NC in 2002.
The Albemarle was a ram, meaning that it had iron-covered oak timbers protruding from her bow and shaped like an ax head. It was designed to run into the side of wooden ships and sink them. Finding iron was difficult. Iron pots and farm implements were collected from the surrounding area, at gunpoint if necessary! Most of the armor was rolled from railroad iron into plates that were 2" thick and 7" wide.
The original CSS Albemarle was built under contract with 19 year-old Gilbert Elliot from Elizabeth City, NC. Instead of being built in a well equipped shipyard, it was built in a cornfield up the Roanoke River near Edward's Ferry. It took over a year to construct.
According to a naval survey performed on May 18, 1865, the Albemarle was 158' long, 35' 3" wide (beam) and drew 9 feet of water. She had two reciprocating compound 200 hp. steam engines with two 6' propellers that had a 9' pitch. Her cruising speed was only 5 knots!
Today a 63' replica of the CSS Albemarle floats in the placid waters of the Roanoke River behind the Port O' Plymouth Museum. During the Summer season at 12 noon each day, she cruises the river firing her guns and reminding us of her colorful past.
Where is original located?: Port O Plymouth Museum
Where is this replica located?: CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke River
Who created the original?: Gilbert Elliot from Elizabeth City, NC
Internet Link about Original: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Albemarle
Year Original was Created (approx. ok): 1865
|
Visit Instructions:
Post at least one photo of the replica.