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Ironclad USS Louisville (1861)

Ironclad USS Louisville (1861) 0Ironclad USS Louisville (1861) 1Ironclad USS Louisville (1861) 2Ironclad USS Louisville (1861) 3Ironclad USS Louisville (1861) 4

Classification

Ship class:
City-class ironclad
Type:
Ironclad

Basic information

Operator:
Union NavyUnion Navy United States ArmyUnited States Army United States NavyUnited States Navy
Country of build:
Builder:
James Eads & Co.
Commissioned (service):
Decommissioned (out):
Status:
Decommissioned
Fate:
Sold, 30 September 1868

Ship measurements

Displacement:
512 t
Length:
53 m
Beam (waterline):
15.6 m
Draft:
1.8 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 2 * non-condensing reciprocating steam engines
  • 22 ft (6.7 m) diameter paddle wheel
Speed:
8 knots

Personnel

Complement:
251

Combat assets

Armor:
  • Casemate: 2.5 in (64 mm)
  • Pilothouse: 1.25 in (32 mm)
Armament:

January 1862

  • 3 * 8-inch smoothbores
  • 4 * 42-pounder rifles
  • 6 * 32-pounder rifles
  • 1 * 12-pounder rifle

September 1862

  • 3 * 9-inch smoothbores
  • 1 * 8-inch smoothbore
  • 2 * 42-pounder rifles
  • 6 * 32-pounder rifles
  • 2 * 30-pounder rifles
  • 1 * 12-pounder rifle

Early 1864

  • 4 * 9-inch smoothbores
  • 1 * 100-pounder rifle
  • 6 * 32-pounder rifles
  • 2 * 30-pounder rifles
  • 1 * 12-pounder rifle

USS Louisville was a City-class ironclad gunboat constructed for the U.S. Army by James B. Eads during the American Civil War. (While initially owned by the Army, the City-class gunboats were commanded by U.S. Navy officers, and were eventually transferred to the Navy.)

Louisville was built at St. Louis, Missouri, by James B. Eads in 1861, under contract with the War Department for the price of $89,000. Designed by U.S. Navy «Constructor» (Naval Engineer) Samuel M. Pook, she was accepted 15 January 1862; and commissioned 16 January 1862, Commander Benjamin M. Dove, USN, in command. Despite being designed by naval personnel, budgetary concerns led the War Department to fund construction of Louisville with Army funds. As such, she was turned over to Army command upon completion and joined the Army's Mississippi River Squadron. Eventually the entire western river flotilla would be transferred to Navy command.

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