USS Vesuvius, dynamite gun cruiser

[Slammer58]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vesuvius_(1888)

 

Don't quite remember what I was doing/looking for when I stumbled onto this.  I never knew there was such a thing as a dynamite gun cruiser.  Apparently she was pretty stealthy and freaked out the Spanish in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

[UnrepentantSinner]

We never stop learning, never heard of a ship like that before, quite an interesting design.

[Taylor3006]

It was an interesting idea. IIRC they had to fire the guns using compressed air otherwise the dynamite charges would go off.   Since there was no explosion from the guns firing, the first indication that you were under fire was when the charge exploded amongst your positions. 

[DDG44_Vet]

Thank you @Slammer58, fascinating history 

[Wolfswetpaws]

4 hours ago, Slammer58 said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vesuvius_(1888)

 

Don't quite remember what I was doing/looking for when I stumbled onto this.  I never knew there was such a thing as a dynamite gun cruiser.  Apparently she was pretty stealthy and freaked out the Spanish in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

👍

[Lord_Slayer]

On 6/2/2024 at 3:50 PM, Slammer58 said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vesuvius_(1888)

 

Don't quite remember what I was doing/looking for when I stumbled onto this.  I never knew there was such a thing as a dynamite gun cruiser.  Apparently she was pretty stealthy and freaked out the Spanish in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

I remember coming across this years ago in a magazine. I believe it was a Navel History mag.

Definitely a unique ship