U.S.S. Cairo
1863
(Youngerman Ship Models YSM-046)
- Class: Cairo - 7 river ironclads of 1861
- Displacement: 512 tons
- Dimensions: 175' x 51'2" x 6'
- Machinery: Center wheel, 2 horizontal HP engines,
5 boilers = 8 knots
- Armor: 2.5" casemates, 1.25" pilothouse
- Armament: 3-8" SB, 3-42pdr R, 6-32pdr R, 1-30pdr R, 1-12pdr SB
- Complement: 251
- Builder: James B. Eads, Mound City, Illinois
- Laid down: 1861
- Launched: 1861
- Commissioned: 25 Jan 1862
- Notes: Designed by John Lenthall as modified by Samuel Pook and James B. Eads. Known as "Pook Turtles." Had reectangular casemate with sloped armored sides and a paddle wheel amidships near the stern. Built for the Army's Western Gunboat Flotilla, Cairo and sisters Carondelet, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg, and St. Louis all completed within three months. Initially commanded by specially attached Navy officers, the vessels were officially transferred to the Navy 1 Oct 1862.
- Service: Occupation of Clarksville, Tenn., 12 Feb 1862. Bombardment of Ft. Pillow, Tenn., 13 Apr. Engagement with enemy vessels and batteries at Ft. Pillow, 10 May. Battle of Memphis, Tenn., 6 Jun. Expedition up Yazoo River, 21 Nov - 11 Dec. Struck a torpedo (mine) and sank, 12 Dec 1862. Wreck raised 1965 and now on display at Vicksburg NMP.
Up