Fulton's "Steam Battery": Blockship and Catamaran

Name: Fulton's "Steam Battery": Blockship and Catamaran
Author: Howard Irving Chapelle

By Howard Irving Chapelle

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Engineering & Technology History - American History - Warfare

About This Book

A technical-historical study reconstructs a catamaran-style, steam-propelled blockship from the War of 1812. Drawing on newly located plans, contemporary accounts, and patent sketches, the author traces the design and construction, fairing of hull lines, and internal arrangement including boilers, engines, and a central paddle race. The narrative evaluates the double-hull concept, armament layout, propulsion choices, and practicability as a man-of-war, resolves discrepancies among earlier descriptions, and offers scale reconstructions and model measurements to assess performance, stability, and tactical role in coastal defense.

About the Author

Howard Irving Chapelle

Howard Irving Chapelle was an American naval architect and maritime historian, recognized for his contributions to the study of American maritime history and ship design. He is particularly known for his detailed analyses of early steamships and their evolution. His notable works include "Fulton's 'Steam Battery': Blockship and Catamaran," which examines the innovations of Robert Fulton, and "The Migrations of an American Boat Type," where he explores the development of American boat designs. Chapelle's scholarship has significantly enriched the understanding of maritime technology and its historical context.