The David and the slew of similar vessels produced around Charleston, S.C. (known generically as "Davids") made up a class of semi-submersible torpedo boats designed for sneak attack on Union warships. With a length of around 50', a draft of less than 5', and only a few feet of hull and stack showing above the water, the David was a weapon of stealth. Some say the Davids' trim was adjusted by water ballast tanks; others that they carried a lot of pig-iron ballast in their bottoms. As can be seen in the cutaway drawing below, the hull was just large enough to hold the boiler and propulsion plant. The Davids certainly prefigured the Whitehead self-propelled torpedo in many ways, but they did require a crew of 2-3 to operate. An attack in a David was virtually guaranteed to be a suicide mission.
The Davids drew their name collectively from the Biblical story of David and Goliath, implying that the tiny torpedo craft could slay vessels from the powerful Union fleet. In that sense, the David myth personified the mystique of Southern arms in the war as a whole. Privately funded by Dr. St. Julian Ravenel, they were built at Stoney Landing on the Cooper River, far from prying eyes in Charleston. Our illustration is taken from Daniel Dowdey's excellent website of digital renderings of Civil War vessels, for which we thank the artist.
The David and the slew of similar vessels produced around Charleston, S.C. (known generically as "Davids") made up a class of semi-submersible torpedo boats designed for sneak attack on Union warships. With a length of around 50', a draft of less than 5', and only a few feet of hull and stack showing above the water, the David was a weapon of stealth. Some say the Davids' trim was adjusted by water ballast tanks; others that they carried a lot of pig-iron ballast in their bottoms. As can be seen in the cutaway drawing below, the hull was just large enough to hold the boiler and propulsion plant. The Davids certainly prefigured the Whitehead self-propelled torpedo in many ways, but they did require a crew of 2-3 to operate. An attack in a David was virtually guaranteed to be a suicide mission.The Davids drew their name collectively from the Biblical story of David and Goliath, implying that the tiny torpedo craft could slay vessels from the powerful Union fleet. In that sense, the David myth personified the mystique of Southern arms in the war as a whole. Privately funded by Dr. St. Julian Ravenel, they were built at Stoney Landing on the Cooper River, far from prying eyes in Charleston. Our illustration is taken from Daniel Dowdey's excellent website of digital renderings of Civil War vessels, for which we thank the artist.
But being small and requiring only small engines and amounts of material, the Davids were an appropriate weapon for mass production in the technologically backward South. As can be seen, they employed the spar torpedo as their only weapon, requiring physical contact with the target vessel. The proximity of the charge's explosion and the vessels' very low freeboard made it likely that the attacking David would be damaged or sunk as the result of even a successful attack. A number of unsuccessful attempts were made at Charleston, where some eight 50-foot Davids were constructed, as well as two gigantic, 100-foot monsters that never saw combat.
Rough specifications for a typical David: 50' long OA plus spar torpedo; 9'6" beam. ~4'6" draft. Top speed: 12 kts. Crew: 2 to 3.
The David is distinguished for leading an attack on the USS New Ironsides on October 5, 1863, intending to insert a torpedo under the ironclad's armor belt. She did explode her torpedo, but the damage was insufficient to sink the ship or even take her out of action for more than a few days. Nothing daunted, the David made another assault on a Union ironclad on the Stono River, but its torpedo charge failed to explode on this occasion. More successful spar-torpedo attacks during the War included the Hunley's submarine attack on the blockader USS Housatonic, and Federal Lt. George Cushing's daring assault on the Confederate ironclad Albemarle. In both of these cases, the torpedo craft sank its target.
More information about the Davids, including actual-size and scale models, can be found at the Old Santee Canal Park and Berkeley County Museum near Charleston.
Rough specifications for a typical David: 50' long OA plus spar torpedo; 9'6" beam. ~4'6" draft. Top speed: 12 kts. Crew: 2 to 3.
The David is distinguished for leading an attack on the USS New Ironsides on October 5, 1863, intending to insert a torpedo under the ironclad's armor belt. She did explode her torpedo, but the damage was insufficient to sink the ship or even take her out of action for more than a few days. Nothing daunted, the David made another assault on a Union ironclad on the Stono River, but its torpedo charge failed to explode on this occasion. More successful spar-torpedo attacks during the War included the Hunley's submarine attack on the blockader USS Housatonic, and Federal Lt. George Cushing's daring assault on the Confederate ironclad Albemarle. In both of these cases, the torpedo craft sank its target.
More information about the Davids, including actual-size and scale models, can be found at the Old Santee Canal Park and Berkeley County Museum near Charleston.
It is undoubtedly a David. What the circumstances are -- why children should be picnicking next to a lethal war machine, why it should be hauled out on the lawn -- remains clouded, one of history's mysteries.
It is undoubtedly a David. What the circumstances are -- why children should be picnicking next to a lethal war machine, why it should be hauled out on the lawn -- remains clouded, one of history's mysteries.
Drawn by Joe Hinds, profile and top views of the David.
A giant, 163' David at Charleston following the city's surrender in February 1865.
