The Design and Creation of CSS David: Memoirs of the Boat's Builder (original) (raw)

Abstract

Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval warfare. The design of the CSS David semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important innovation as it spurred the subsequent development of both the modern torpedo and the submarine. The original David, of which at least 18 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull, yet the story of the “Little David” remains obscure. Even less is known about the design and construction of the vessel. As a result of published second and third party accounts, and a lack of surviving written records, few published details of David’s origin and history exist. Of those that do, they are often conflicting with detailed provided by the boat’s claimed builder. This paper will describe the construction details of David based primarily on little known published memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, with additions from the boat’s engineer, J. H. Tomb, and other relevant primary sources, while simultaneously identifying the original torpedo boat in photographic form for comparison to other images of the vessel as a point of departure for discussing the construction of this unique vessel.

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