CSS Tennessee
 Click the image for more information |
CSS Tennessee in 1/192nd scaleOSN-31 Our newest model kit in 1/192nd scale. Kit includes resin, white metal, and custom made specifically for the Tennessees photo-etch parts! Using Ed Parent's blueprints, we again used a CAD computer and stereo-lithography (Rapid Prototyping) to make a detailed rich in detail master patern. The kit is 13 inches in length and 3 inches wide. The Tennessee was the strongest and most powerful ironclad built by the South. The armor forward was 6 inches thick and the rest of the casemate was 5 inches thick. There were ten gun ports in the casemate, three in broadside on either side, two forward and two aft. The foward and after ports, to port and starboard were placed so as to enable the forward and after guns to pivot and be used as broadside guns. The Tennessee had six Brooke rifles. The two pivot guns were 7.125 inch Brooke's and the four broadside guns were 6 inch rifles. All six guns were doubled banded and fired shells weighing 95 or 110 pounds. Click on the photo for three more photo views of The Old Steam Navy CSS Tennessee.
Tennessee became flagship of Admiral Buchanan (same officer who commanded the CSS Virginia), and served gallantly in action in the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. On that morning Tennessee and wooden gunboats CSS Gaines, CSS Morgan, and CSS Selma, steamed into combat against Admiral Farragut's powerful fleet of two Canonicus class monitors (Tecumseh and Manhattan) and two Milwaukee class ironclads (twin turreted Winnebago and Chickasaw) and 14 wooden steamers. Unable to ram Farragut’s ships because of their superior speed,the Tennessee delivered a vigorous fire on the Federals at close range. All three Confederate gunboats were sunk or dispersed. Farragut's fleet steamed up into the bay and anchored. Buchanan might have held the Tennessee under the fort's protection but steamed after the Federal fleet and engaged despite overwhelming odds. The ram became the target for the entire Union fleet. The Tennessee was rammed by several ships, and her vulnerable steering chains (which, oddly, lay in exposed trenches on the after deck) were carried away by the heavy gunfire. Unable to maneuver, the Tennessee was battered repeatedly by heavy solid shot from her adversaries. With two of her men killed, Admiral Buchanan and eight others wounded, and increasingly severe damage being inflicted on her, Tennessee was forced to surrender. SKU:OSN-31 $175.00 |