Search the Community

Hello Naval Action Captains, I am proposing adding in the USS Ohio circa 1820 which from what has been agreed on is the cutoff year for Naval Action with the addition of the Mercury. The USS Ohio has quite a service history for the United States as a SoL (Ship of the Line) and quite honestly is likely the single best SoL the United States ever made. USS Ohio History: Laid Down - 1817 @ New York Naval Yard Launched - May 30th 1820 Spent her early years in "ordinary" "refitted" for service in 1838 when she was needed, and served as the US Flagship to the Mediterranean for 2 years Went back to Boston for "ordinary" in 1840 Recommissioned in 1846 in the US - Mexico war assisting in the Siege of Vera Cruz, her guns were deployed and 336 of her crew were sent on the Tuxpan River Expedition. Shortly after the war with Mexico she was sent to the Pacific to keep order off California during the gold rush. She returned to Boston one last time in 1850, and served as a receiving ship until 1875. She was placed in "ordinary" for the last time in 1883, and was sold off. During her "breaking up" she refused to die, she broke from her mooring during a storm and became stranded. She was subsequently burned to the waterline and portions of her hull remain scattered and buried underneath the mud to this day (the shipwreck site is well documented). Armament as best replicated: 90 guns total 2 x 32lb Cannons Fore No guns Aft (Only windows) 24 x 42lb Carronades (Spar Deck) 32 x 32lb Cannons (Gun Deck) 32 x 42lb Cannons (Lower Deck) Standard Crew Compliment: 840 Men & Officers Why the USS Ohio (1820) aka Ohio II? The USS Ohio is regarded by many US Naval Historians as one of the most beautiful sailing warships ever afloat at the time of her launching. On top of that naval records and journals indicate she was an absolutely superb ship to sail constantly doing better than 12 knots and handling very much like a frigate, this information is extremely well documented. While she was built along side her sister ships she was designed slightly differently and to date is still regarded as the best SoL the United States had ever built, despite not seeing much action, even though she did see action in the Mexican-American war. Her armament is quite impressive to say the least, that is a LOT of 32 and 42lb guns, and for her sailing characteristics this makes her a very very formidable ship despite being on 104 guns when compared to the larger ships like the HMS Victory and the Santisima Trinidad's ridiculous amount of guns. Strong Armor, excellent sailing characteristics, powerful armament, this is what makes a good SoL, and I believe she has a place in Naval Action as there are no US SoL's and not many can either fit the timeline or were just poor performers. Historical Pictures: Artist Rendition of USS Ohio SoL (1820) "2 old salts" on the USS Ohio circa 1870 USS Ohio as a receiving ship in Boston circa 1870 USS Ohio (far right) in Boston photo circa 1870's Original Cedar "Hercules" figurehead from the USS Ohio on display today Stephen Myatts near 100% accurate (painstakingly recreated from historical documentation) model of the SoL USS Ohio (Left Side) Stephen Myatts near 100% accurate (painstakingly recreated from historical documentation) model of the SoL USS Ohio (Fore) Documented Sources: Naval Historical Foundation Nav Source Online (historical photos only) 3 Decks Naval Warfare History Wikipedia USS Ohio 1820 (GENERAL HISTORICAL INFORMATION ONLY) *NOTE: I would like to point out that the original naval register for her initial gun complement has yet to surface on the internet, I have heard that the US Navy does have some historical documents that can be requested at a cost (unsure of the cost) however this information has not been entirely verified. The gun compliment while being based on the 1837 public register does fit with the period that Naval Action is in, there are NO EXPLODING SHELL CANNONS on her as of 1837, these were traditional round shot cannons, the documentation is there to prove it. "NOPE IT'S OUT OF DATE" - Then remove the Mercury, this launched on the same year, month and within 11 DAYS of the launch of the Russian Brig Mercury, your arguement is invalid. "Can't fit 1837 guns on a 1820's ship, it's out of the timeline" - as long as they are the same guns that are limited in Naval Action and are the front loading, and fire only traditional round shot you can, and circa 1837 she was fitted for exactly that, and ONLY that. The only reason she has no earlier documentation is that she was in "ordinary" until she was needed to be sailed. Again argument invalid. Yes she pushes the limits of the timeline, no argument there, however she does meet all the requirements and in my honest opinion she would make an excellent addition to the game.