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HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
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Author:  Rodondo [ June 16th, 2011, 11:50 am ]
Post subject:  HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
(Yes, another very small historical footnote from me :D )

The HMCS Spitfire was a ketch built in Sydney, for the New South Wales Government, to combat "Russian threats" in 1855, she served a long career in Australia until she was wrecked in a cyclone near Queensland at the end of 1899. She served the Queensland government after 1859 and her copper bottom was vital for her service in Australia's tropical north, she was built out of dense Australia woods, probably the reason why she survived so long. Spitfire marked the start for the colonial navies and ultimately, the modern RAN

She had a single 32pdr which was fired when the bulwarks were lowered.(There are only 2 drawings that show here in good detail, none show her with sail and in firing position)

Length-18.9m
Beam-4.9m
Draught-1.65m
Tonnage-65/60 tons
Crew-could carry 4 in a cabin aft and once sailed on a long expedition(over 1000km) with 14 men on board


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Author:  acelanceloet [ June 16th, 2011, 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
I'd like to see one of those 2 drawings with sails, if possible...... otherwise really nice!

I am only wondering why this ship has no standing rigging at the rear of the mast, are you sure you didn't forgot those? or did she have only rigging at the sides?
Author:  Rodondo [ June 16th, 2011, 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
Rigging was all awry (even for me) She had very little rigging for the back mast, unless the woodcut I have has omitted some finer details. I'm working on the sails at the moments
Author:  Thiel [ June 16th, 2011, 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
That's standard since it'll interfere with the booms.
Example
Author:  Rodondo [ June 16th, 2011, 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
about the same size as well!

Thanks for clearing that up!
Author:  acelanceloet [ June 16th, 2011, 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
Thiel wrote:
That's standard since it'll interfere with the booms.
Example
yeah, but the mainmast has VERY little rigging aft. the picture you show has one line quite a bit aft, (1/3 of the boom) while on the spitfire this line is about 1/10 of the boom. seeing the 'pull' of the bowsprit sails (don't remember the english word for them now) this looks.... dangerous. but it is possible, I am just wondering.
Author:  Thiel [ June 16th, 2011, 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
acelanceloet wrote:
Thiel wrote:
That's standard since it'll interfere with the booms.
Example
yeah, but the mainmast has VERY little rigging aft. the picture you show has one line quite a bit aft, (1/3 of the boom) while on the spitfire this line is about 1/10 of the boom. seeing the 'pull' of the bowsprit sails (don't remember the english word for them now) this looks.... dangerous. but it is possible, I am just wondering.
That's the back-stay, but it's not part of the standing rigging. Every time we tack we have to tighten it on the windward side and loosen it on the lee side.
Author:  Rodondo [ June 16th, 2011, 12:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
Like a small sailing dingy? with a gun of course though!
Author:  acelanceloet [ June 16th, 2011, 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
Thiel wrote:
acelanceloet wrote:
Thiel wrote:
That's standard since it'll interfere with the booms.
Example
yeah, but the mainmast has VERY little rigging aft. the picture you show has one line quite a bit aft, (1/3 of the boom) while on the spitfire this line is about 1/10 of the boom. seeing the 'pull' of the bowsprit sails (don't remember the english word for them now) this looks.... dangerous. but it is possible, I am just wondering.
That's the back-stay, but it's not part of the standing rigging. Every time we tack we have to tighten it on the windward side and loosen it on the lee side.
yeah, I know, I just couldn't explain that in english :P but well.... that one is missing on his drawing, IMO.
Author:  Rodondo [ June 16th, 2011, 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: HMCS Spitfire, Australia's first Homemande Warship
There is a drawing which suggests there is such said rig but the issue is it would prevent the bulwark from lowering
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