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| an example of trying to build an ironclad on the cheap the USS Keokuk was sunk off Fort Sumter April 7, 1863 by Confederate artillery. the above Dahlgren was salvaged by the Confederates after the battle it was one of two carried in Keokuk as her main battery. |
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| Keokuk was armored by 2" of oak overlaid by 2" of iron which was covered by another 1/2" of iron plate. not nearly enough to keep out the shot of major calibre artillery of the Civil War. she was just about shot to splinters off Fort Sumter before sinking the next morning. |
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| powered by two Ericson vibrating lever engines USS Keokuk was capable of a top speed of around 9kts a little faster than a contemporary monitor. |
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| although apparently having turrets Keokuk did not. they were fixed gunhouses with 3 gunports apiece through which an 11" Dahlgren smoothbore cannon in each one could be swiveled around to fire through one of the ports. |
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| an excellent model of USS Keokuk showing her hull form and the fixed gunhouses and her deck as well. notice the ram on the bow and one of her twin screws beneath her stern. |
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