It looks as though it might be a RN coastal monitor modified for another purpose, with the main armament turret having the gun(s) replaced by a crane...
Well, I knew the apparent turret & barbette was placed wrongly relative to the superstructure as found in the RN monitors' imagery that I've seen, but then there are those seemingly apparent torpedo bulges.
Well, I'll be d@mned. I saw those side blisters (seeming torpedo bulges) and the lack of any apparent remains of sponsons or casemates and such caused me to think it was anything but an old BB.
I've got a quiz / challenge for this blog's owner.
Two warships, one named V********e and the other named E********e, were of the same class. Yet, at the time of their later wartime service they were hardly recognizable as having originated from the same design and having shared many original constructive features.
What ships were these two vessels and with which class did they belong and with which service did they serve?
In a photo' on its own the RN's Type 45 don't look bigger than the Type 23 (if you eye keeps away from the Mk8 mount.)
In reality though the T45's flightdeck is at the same level as the T23's bridge wing.
I think this is due to the T45's clean stealth lines and very large bridge windows.
Similar happens if you look at pictures of HMS Speedy when you can't see into the bridge. She looks like a speedboat. And then when you pictures where the crew are visible on the bridge she suddenly becomes a lot, lot bigger.
It looks as though it might be a RN coastal monitor modified for another purpose, with the main armament turret having the gun(s) replaced by a crane...
ReplyDeleteHello D.E.Reddick,
ReplyDeleteyou are thinking along the right lines but it is not a British monitor.
GrandLogistics.
Well, I knew the apparent turret & barbette was placed wrongly relative to the superstructure as found in the RN monitors' imagery that I've seen, but then there are those seemingly apparent torpedo bulges.
ReplyDeleteSo, is it French?
Looks like an American Battleship hull begun during or just prior to WWI, but I don't recall one being modified this way.
ReplyDeleteChuck,
ReplyDeleteThat hull is way too short for any American class of BB.
Hello,
ReplyDeletegentlemen,you were doing well....
GrandLogistics.
Its the Kearsarge. Wasn't she used for salvage?
ReplyDeleteHello steve,
ReplyDeletewell done.
Crane Ship Number 1,formerly known as the United States Ship Kearsarge:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/ab1.htm
With over 50 years service,the American taxpayers certainly got their money's worth out of her.
Someone will be kicking themselves.
GrandLogistics.
Well, I'll be d@mned. I saw those side blisters (seeming torpedo bulges) and the lack of any apparent remains of sponsons or casemates and such caused me to think it was anything but an old BB.
ReplyDeleteOK,
ReplyDeleteI've got a quiz / challenge for this blog's owner.
Two warships, one named V********e and the other named E********e, were of the same class. Yet, at the time of their later wartime service they were hardly recognizable as having originated from the same design and having shared many original constructive features.
What ships were these two vessels and with which class did they belong and with which service did they serve?
DER, I think they may have added blisters to improve stability and that may have effected your perception of the ship.
ReplyDeleteChuck,
ReplyDeleteYeah, the increased beam as compared to her original length made Kearsarge seem like a much smaller vessel.
Sometimes perception beats all other aspects of information.
It can be hard to scale ships from photo's.
ReplyDeleteIn a photo' on its own the RN's Type 45 don't look bigger than the Type 23 (if you eye keeps away from the Mk8 mount.)
In reality though the T45's flightdeck is at the same level as the T23's bridge wing.
I think this is due to the T45's clean stealth lines and very large bridge windows.
Similar happens if you look at pictures of HMS Speedy when you can't see into the bridge. She looks like a speedboat. And then when you pictures where the crew are visible on the bridge she suddenly becomes a lot, lot bigger.
http://www.foils.org/gallery/speedy1.jpg