SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) The following 3D model of the Gunboat Philadelphia can be viewed here http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=47 at the new Smithsonian X3D website http://3d.si.edu/browser You may have to update your browser (Internet Explorer 6 won't cut it... ) and perhaps download a browser plugin to be able to view, manipulate, zoom in, change lighting, etc. but it is worthwhile to poke around this boat and some of the other Smithsonian virtual "charter collections" being made available. They are all composed of real museum objects laser scanned, some textured. Updates and improvements happen sporadically, the gunboat wasn't there not so long ago... Most 3D models can be downloaded and I believe used without restrictions. The Tlingit Killer Whale hat http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=392 has cultural-use restrictions, it came out of my office. I do not know anything about this gunboat (edit: but see below), though am sure there is a wiki page, and some of you history buffs likely know more. I can't believe a boat like that could handle the recoil of those side guns; the bow gun sure, but... Shortly after the American Revolution began, American forces in Lake Champlain, located between New York and Vermont, began capturing British strongholds in Canada. The British were determined to isolate New England from the middle and southern colonies by advancing down Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor. To accomplish their mission, the British gathered a fleet at the head of the lake. It was essential for the British to reach and recapture Fort Ticonderoga at the southern end of the lake before winter conditions made military operations impossible. In order to have any hope of defending the lake from the British, the Americans had to expand their tiny navy. American General Benedict Arnold built a fleet consisting of eight gondolas and four galleys in the summer of 1776 to resist. The gondolas, or flat-bottomed rowing boat with sails, were designed and constructed as simple gun platforms. Armed with three cannon and eight swivel guns, Philadelphia was one of them. Edited March 20, 2015 by SYN_Bloody-Bandy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatScott Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Very cool. My wife went to SUNY Plattsburgh and I've spent some time up on that lake. I need to look more into the battle(s) that occurred there. This could be the "noob ship"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Well, not so sure how sea-worthy it was. Wouldn't want to be in it on the storm map let's say... I wasn't posting for inclusion in game but I suppose it could be used by the AI as auxiliary harbour protection. Certainly should be relatively affordable for aspiring players wishing to protect their land assets while away. Imagine swarms of these little boats, all difficult to hit as they bob about, spamming you with chain and grape... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigand Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I don't really believe it would be a good idea to shoot a side facing cannon mounted as shown in the OP. I thought cannons in small boats where invariably solidly attached to the hull/deck and front facing. I can only imagine a vessel like this would capsize by the recoil of the cannon. But, maybe there is good facts backing up the image? ~Brigand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prater Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I thought that odd too Brigand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Loe Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 One shot and everyone is overboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatScott Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I don't know, apparently it actually sailed like this. 53ft Long, 15ft Beam according to Wiki; 9 pounder on the side and 12 pounder on the front. According to the Smithsonian it had a crew of 44...I would just like to know how they all fit on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) ... But, maybe there is good facts backing up the image? ~Brigand Well, I think the "facts", or shall we say proof are in the original: http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/gunboat-philadelphia http://www.smithsonianlegacies.si.edu/objectdescription.cfm?ID=187 I don't work at American History, but I could walk a block and ask any questions you may have. 9 pounders on the side, and a 12 on the front! My my, I think the devs are short changing us in the small ship category. Edited March 20, 2015 by SYN_Bloody-Bandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Loe Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Well, I think the "facts", or shall we say proof are in the original. http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/gunboat-philadelphia I don't work at American History, but I could walk a block and ask any questions you may have. 9 pounders on the side, and a 12 on the front! My my, I think the devs are short changing us in the small ships we've got. We could add them as decorations around ports You would not survive for long on the open ocean in that thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maturin Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Yeah, the details of this boat are unusually well-documented, since they simply raised her from the bottom of the lake with all her original guns in place, complete with the 24-pound ball that sank her! You can walk right up to the Smithsonian exhibit and look at the shot-hole in the bow. Anyways, as this is a gunboat, she was not expected to do any independent or long-range seafaring. Gunboats would operate as part of a flotilla, and were dependent on sheltered bases. Just because you can stick a 32-pounder on a gunboat doesn't mean that an armament even a fraction this heavy is viable for the game's cutter or yacht. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Again, I do not think anybody is advocating this gunboat (or similar) to be included on the open sea or for player use, simply that it could possibly be used for AI defense of ports. And it has 9 and 12 pounder cannons, not 32... http://www.rif.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah O'Brien Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Well, not so sure how sea-worthy it was. Wouldn't want to be in it on the storm map let's say... I wasn't posting for inclusion in game but I suppose it could be used by the AI as auxiliary harbour protection. Certainly should be relatively affordable for aspiring players wishing to protect their land assets while away. Imagine swarms of these little boats, all difficult to hit as they bob about, spamming you with chain and grape... This is quite the idea. They would be excellent for blockading a harbor, maybe the tactic of chaining them together to form a line could be implemented. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prater Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I can't remember where the original admin post is, but this is all I can find about the gunboat that is in development: http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/3640-mortar-ships/?p=71718 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah O'Brien Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Also, I believe the Philadelphia is technically the oldest known American fighting vessel in existence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYN_Bloody-Bandy Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) Yeah, the details of this boat are unusually well-documented, since they simply raised her from the bottom of the lake with all her original guns in place, complete with the 24-pound ball that sank her! You can walk right up to the Smithsonian exhibit and look at the shot-hole in the bow. Anyways, as this is a gunboat, she was not expected to do any independent or long-range seafaring. Gunboats would operate as part of a flotilla, and were dependent on sheltered bases. Just because you can stick a 32-pounder on a gunboat doesn't mean that an armament even a fraction this heavy is viable for the game's cutter or yacht. As to your last statement, I wonder what fired the 24 pound ball that sank the gunboat then? I doubt we'll ever know given that the British fleet included a range of vessels http://www.historiclakes.org/Valcour/valcour_battle.htm although a detailed order of battle is available http://www.historiclakes.org/Valcour/valcour_chart.htm I can't remember where the original admin post is, but this is all I can find about the gunboat that is in development: http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/3640-mortar-ships/?p=71718 Didn't know about this work-in-progress, it's very nice and love the carronade off the back. That makes this thread moot! Though it raised awareness if you didn't know about the recovery of the Philadelphia, or the X3D website (a shameless plug for my museum's latest efforts to reach the masses... ) http://3d.si.edu/ Edited March 21, 2015 by SYN_Bloody-Bandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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