Four page document complete with drawings and description of a proposed ship named “THE STEVENS BATTERY.”

The document explains that the ship was to be ironclad with seven guns centered on her deck in an open iron casemate. Her armament would consist of  five 15-inch and two 10-inch rifled guns. The ship would have two watertight compartments, one fore and one aft, that could be flooded so the ship would be lower in the water and present less of a target. These compartments could also be quickly drained by pumps for pursuit of a beaten enemy. She would have two steam powered screws run by separate engines for better speed and maneuver, also for steering if something happened to the rudder. The upper armored gun casement would be protected by 6.50 inches of iron plate and would be high enough to protect the crew but still give the guns better elevation and traverse options due to the casemate not having a roof and therefore requiring no firing ports. Also, the open casemate would cut down on smoke from the guns and noise for the crew’s ears.

The document runs 4 pages and meas. approx. 9.25 x 11.25 inches with one horizontal fold line that shows a very slight separation along one edge . At top of the front page is the title “STEVENS BATTERY” above a line drawing of the ship from the side showing the interior compartments as well as the gun deck and waterline and another line drawing showing the ship looking down from above. There is also a smaller drawing giving a view of the vessel in cross section. The document then highlights the features of the ship from the hull up.

Stevens Battery was never finished as it is described here. A ship was produced by Stevens somewhat along these lines during the first year of the Civil War and was used by the Revenue-Marine Service and was named “NAUGATUCK.” She was loaned to the Navy and saw some action in 1862 but her main gun burst and Naval officers consulted did not care for her design so the “NAUGATUCK” was sent back to the Revenue-Marine Service.     [AD] [ph:L]

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