USS Trenton.1876 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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USS Trenton.1876 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

USS Trenton.1876

Posts 1 to 8

I have been reading a small piece about the United states Ship "Trenton" Apparently she was the last major wooden-hulled US warship built of wood. She was finished in 1876 and was the largest cruiser in the US navy for many years. Built of live oak,(Newly cut timber which is not allowed to season). She had a heavy cast iron ram 8ft long, the point of which was 9ft below water. She was designed by chief constructor Isaiah Hanscom. "Trenton" had a fuller hull form than the previous class. With a beam to a length ratio of 1:5.27. The 8" muzzle loading rifled guns were converted from 11" smooth bores; there were eight on the gundeck and three on the spar deck above, one aft and two forward able to fire ahead. Displacement 3900 t Dimensions 253ft.x 48ft. x 20ft6in. Machinery single screw,compound return connecting rod. eight boilers. 3100hp. Armament 11 8in. Speed 12.8 knots Complement 416. "Trenton" was however wrecked at Somoa on the 16th of march 1889 during a hurricane that destroyed the US and German squadrons in the harbour. I would like to know if anybody could tell me what actually happened during the hurricane. and how many ships both US and German had wrecked. It must have been some storm:(

She must have been a beautiful ship. I for one would like to see a sketch of her as I feel there won't be a photo. What's the point of using unseasoned oak? I would like to know if someone can explain please. And as you say, some storm!

U.S.Trenton....Only a small picture Im afraid. if you increase it gets poor.
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[LEFT]Here is a photo we have on the site of USS trenton in 1880. Interestingly enough this is not from an actual 'photo' as such, like most of the images on the site, but is in fact scanned from a glass negative, from a collection of such negatives of ships which were for the most past, seemingly rarely photographed.[/LEFT] [CENTER][IMG]http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/usstrentonsym34.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]

I said that I expected her to be a beautiful ship and your contribution Kc, convinces me of it! But I still don't know why they used un-seasoned oak!!

Herakles, On of the benefits of using unseasoned oak is that when jointed, assembled and pegged, the timbers continue to dry out and contract around the joints tightening the structure. This method is and has been, used in housing for many years.As well as in some shipbuilding. Cheers ,Stan

I've got a little bit of information here for you Stan. Bob.
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Thanks Bob, It really was a storm...Makes the weather we have in the UK seem like a holiday. Notice however the British ship managed to get under way.

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