Design and concepts not much changed?
The modern warship has one advantage over all past designs and concepts and that it is now invisible on sonar, this major advance is known as stealth and it has been around since the 1980's but now it is the norm for most of the rich nations of the world!
History shows us that armour had always been part of a key element, from ancient times with shield and metal bands to having a battering ram. Through history the cannon replaced crossbows and catapults of various types and that was over four hundred years to the development of the ironclads and modern metal ships.
The layout of all current vessels is almost the same guns being now replaced by rocket and missile systems, with the addition of the helicopter deck for one or two craft! Prior to this was the extra boats needed for exploration or pillage?
Showing posts with label ironclads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ironclads. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Gunboats to Fast Attack. Part-Two.
From the American Civil War 1861-65.
The gunboat in its own right was developed during the American civil war in the deep south, there was a serious need to control the rivers of the region on both the Confederate and Union sides.
Many conventional ships were re-designed as low flats known as Monitors or Iron Clads and these where armoured with up to 7 cannons per vessel.
In fact any boat with any type of gun could be called a 'Gunboat? The United States despite being very successful with seagoing boats in World War-II (1940-45) had to reinvent in reverse during the Vietnam wars 1965-75.
This saw the introduction of a selection of machine guns and small cannons of various calibres, because these where found to be more effective than the standard 40mm cannons used on sea going boats.
The gunboat in its own right was developed during the American civil war in the deep south, there was a serious need to control the rivers of the region on both the Confederate and Union sides.
Many conventional ships were re-designed as low flats known as Monitors or Iron Clads and these where armoured with up to 7 cannons per vessel.
In fact any boat with any type of gun could be called a 'Gunboat? The United States despite being very successful with seagoing boats in World War-II (1940-45) had to reinvent in reverse during the Vietnam wars 1965-75.
This saw the introduction of a selection of machine guns and small cannons of various calibres, because these where found to be more effective than the standard 40mm cannons used on sea going boats.
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Warships. Part-Two.
The Battleship.
This type of vessel concept is nothing new, the ancient galleys were based on sea warfare and effective attack methods. Later we see this in the 15-17th century battleships of Piracy and the Spanish Armada, the cannon was now more effective than ever before.
European nations of empire now had their battle fleets, the English, Spanish and French and this is how it has stayed up the American Independence? Not exactly correct! Russia, Sweden, Japan and China also had their own areas of expansion in northern-Europe and SE-Asia.
The concept of the Battle/Warship of today stemmed from the invention of the steam engine and the ironclad ships, moving away from wood and sail allowed for stronger and faster vessels. While armaments could now be increased, thus the Dreadnought was born.
This type of vessel concept is nothing new, the ancient galleys were based on sea warfare and effective attack methods. Later we see this in the 15-17th century battleships of Piracy and the Spanish Armada, the cannon was now more effective than ever before.
European nations of empire now had their battle fleets, the English, Spanish and French and this is how it has stayed up the American Independence? Not exactly correct! Russia, Sweden, Japan and China also had their own areas of expansion in northern-Europe and SE-Asia.
The concept of the Battle/Warship of today stemmed from the invention of the steam engine and the ironclad ships, moving away from wood and sail allowed for stronger and faster vessels. While armaments could now be increased, thus the Dreadnought was born.
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