Screw Propellors Essay

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1. The Screw Powered Warship

1.1 Topic Introduction

The development of the screw powered warship began in 1839 when a Swedish-American inventor, John Ericsson revolutionized maritime engineering1 with the invention of the screw propeller. However, Ericsson s invention didn t develop until early 1860 s, when Abraham Lincoln ordered the US Navy to build an ironclad. 2 The US Navy were not on good terms with Ericsson and doubted his design of the USS Monitor, so why was Ericsson awarded the contract to build? The Civil War stimulated the development of warships.

1.2 Purpose Of This Case Study

The purpose of this case study is to make the case that war and competition stimulates technological developments. Analysing Naval actions of the American Civil War during the 1860s will show that the competition of the Civil War brought the demand of new warships. This relates to Kranzberg s fourth law: Although technology might be a prime element in many public issues, nontechnical factors take precedence in technology-policy decisions. 3 Studying Ericsson s travels, inventions and life will demonstrate that technology is a very human activity , Kranzberg s sixth law.3 And following the differences in the USS Princeton and Ericsson s later warship designs demonstrates that invention is the mother of necessity , Kranzberg s second law. 3

1.3 Scope

This analysis will only address the Naval actions of the Union during 1861-1862 of the Civil War, with a brief mention of the ironclad CSS Virginia of the Confederates. The main issue will be the Battle of Hampton Roads. It will follow Ericsson s warships and the invention of the Screw propeller from late 1830s. Different designs of the screw propeller in other countries will not be examined or considered, as Ericsson is thought to be the inventor since he took out a patent for his submerged steamship screw in July 1836, and different screw designs began in 1840s.4

1.4 Methods Of Investigation

This analysis will be evidenced by books about the Civil War and Fighting Ships obtained from various libraries and reliable internet websites dedicated to Ericsson and the Civil War. This Information will be helpful in the investigation of the decision making process of the Naval actions needed, in order to state that the Civil War directly contributed to the development of screw powered warships. Biographies will help in the discussion of the human activity of Ericsson s travels, how he became accepted and what changes where made to the first screw powered fighting ships.

2. The Beginning of Screw Propulsion

2.1 History In Brief

The USS Princeton (1843 V 1849) was the first steamer to be fitted with screw propulsion, amongst her three designers was John Ericsson,5 the inventor of the screw propeller. However, the interest for further development of the warship didn t arise until Abraham Lincoln felt threatened by the Confederates during the Civil War. Hence, in 1862, the USS Monitor was built to battle the CSS Virginia, the first ironclad battle. This abortive Monitor-Virginia battle furthered Ericsson s developments as the Monitor raised questions and provided many improvable features, allowing Ericsson to develop the construction design of his ships. 7

2.2 History Of The Process

The Transmission Before The First Screw Propeller

Roughly 40 years before the screw propeller was first introduced, the fighting ship was driven by the use of steam power and its transmission through paddle wheels. The engines were heavy, unreliable, inefficient and dangerous. The clumsy and inefficient paddle wheels, were a vulnerable target, due to its large size, which increased fire risk, they also upset the sailing qualities of the vessels. Hence, a better form of transmission was desperately needed. 4

John Ericsson And The Accident Onboard The USS Princeton

John Ericsson was born in 1803, in the Swedish province of Vermland. In 1829 Ericsson sought his fortune in London, he worked with compressed air and marine engines. 6 In 1839 he travelled to America to promote the screw propeller since the British took no interest. His first screw powered warship USS Princeton was commissioned in September 1843. In 1844 an explosion of the Peace-Maker, one of the two cannons onboard the Princeton during a demonstration, mortally wounded seven and injured about twenty people. 6 This accident caused much conflict between Ericsson and many prominent naval officials, because he was considered at fault, since the Peace-Maker was one of his designs. The Princeton was taken back to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1849, her timbers were rotten, so she was broken up and her engines were used to construct the new USS Princeton. 8 Ericsson had been at odds 8 with the United States ever since the accident, until the Monitor proved his capabilities after the Battle of Hampton Roads.

The Pressure On The US Navy To Build An Ironclad

The Union felt threatened by the rebuilt USS Merrimack, the ironclad, which was christened CSS Virginia. Upon receiving information on the Virginia, President Abraham Lincoln issued orders given to the US Navy to build a ship that could stand up against the Virginia. On August 3, 1861, the US Navy s Ironclad Board, placed advertisements in the Northern newspapers inviting designers to submit plans for ironclad warships.8

The Presentation Of the USS Monitor

In 1861, after the US Navy received orders from Abraham Lincoln to build an ironclad, Cornielus Bushnell, sought Ericsson for advice on an ironclad Galena. After some discussion on the Galena, he was presented with a model and plan for the Monitor, which was to be made almost entirely of iron and most of the ship would actually be below the waterline. Excited by the model, Bushnell offered to present the model and plan on Ericsson s behalf to the Naval Board. Upon failing to convince the board, Bushnell organised a board meeting in which Ericsson will present his plans himself. In order to do so, he lied to Ericsson about the acceptance of his design, which shocked Ericsson when the truth came out. Ericsson faced many obstacles with the Navy, (influenced by the Princeton incident and the strangeness of the design of the Monitor, which resembled a large round can sitting on a raft), the Navy refused to cooperate and rejected his design, there was a question about the stability of his design and the department felt that they were about to father another Ericsson failure. 8 After another hour s worth of lecture and persuasion the board finally agreed and even extended the completion time from the proposed 90 to 100 days.

The Relevance Of The Battle Of Hampton Roads

Since the Union secretary of the Navy Welles first heard of the newly converted Merrimack to the ironclad CSS Virginia. Welles needed an ironclad to oppose the Confederates. The USS Monitor, commissioned on February 25, 1862, was the answer to the CSS Virginia. The Battle of Hampton Roads came to a draw on the second day of battle, March 9, 1862, when the Virginia had been unable to defeat the Monitor and the Monitor likewise. This led...

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