On this date in 1812

[Bigg Red]

Please add me to such a ping list. Thanks.

[QualityMan]

I would be interested in being on a ping list... :)

thanks

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for posting that, but I am confused. Perhaps someone with more knowledge than I have can explain how, after losing control of her rudder, Constitution was able to reposition herself to attack Java again. The excerpt talks about Constitution having made repairs, so I suppose they could have jury-rigged the steering somehow....

[Bigg Red]

In September, we visited Boston and had the honor of touring this magnificent ship.

[elcid1970]

The `helm’ must mean the ship’s wheel & steering gear. When this was shot away USS Constitution was steered by jury-rigging as you say. When HMS Java surrendered, the Americans detached her helm & installed it on Old Ironsides.

Kinda neat; repair battle damage to your own ship with parts salvaged from the enemy ship. They must have stripped Java of anything useful before sending her to Davy Jones.

[NonValueAdded]

Announcing the War of 1812 ping list

Join in with Bull Snipe, dp0622, Maine Mariner, Bigg Red, and QualityMan, who have already been added.

[Bigg Red]

Yes, lots of clever fellows on those ships.

[paddles]

Read “Six Frigates” by Ian Toll. A great primer for the period 1795-1815.

[Bull Snipe]

truly the days of Iron men in wooden ships.

[Bull Snipe]

I believe for emergency steering, they could rig block and tackles on each side of the rudder stock. As a crewmen or two would haul in on their block and tackle, the crewmen on the other block and tackle would pay out. This would move the rudder to a new position. Probably slower than using the helm, but it would work.

[Chuckster]

Constitutions helm (Steering wheel) was shot away in the battle. The helm is connected to a quadrant or tiller by rope which is wrapped several turns around the drum between the two wheels. If the wheel is shot away, steering can be effected directly from the tiller or quadrant.

I served for several weeks as crew on a replica merchant ship of the 18th century. When we had to remove the wheel for maintenance we simply steered with the tiller which, on that ship, swept the quarter deck. Looks like Constitution has the steering gear protected below decks. With the helm shot away they must have rigged direct steering and shouted directions down from the quarter deck until they could install the helm from Java.

[Bigg Red]

Very good. Thank you.

[Bigg Red]

BTW, after I used the term “jury-rigged”, I became curious about its origin. Turns out it was first used as a nautical term and referred to a way of dealing with problems similar to this.