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The Alabama
It was the American Civil War. British companies were legally delivering arms to both sides. The North and the South, It was very good business. But, shipping had different rules. There were two kinds of ships. Armed and unarmed. And, British companies were allowed to deliver both armed and unarmed ships to the North, but, only unarmed ships to the south. And, the rules were rigoursly applied and controlled. However, where there's a will there's a way. And, some people were expert at bending the rules.
Put simply, most British shipping for the south left Britain unarmed. Then, as if by magic, the same ships arrived at their destinations in the south fully armed. It was all very easy. After leaving Great Britain, the unarmed ships put into foreign ports where they were armed.
But, of course, the North didn't like this. These fully armed ships were a threat. And, one in particular was a very dangerous ship. The Alabama. And, she had a story.
Whilst nearing completion in a Birkenhead ship yard in Great Britain, the Alabama caught the eye of the US authorities. The US authorities claimed the Alabama had been more fitted out than allowed and petitioned the British government to impound the ship. However, it was Friday and the government was closed until Monday. But, no one had reckoned with the confederate's shipping agent in Britain. A man with friends in high places. A certain Mr. James Bulloch. And, Mr. James Bulloch got wind of events and went into action.
The Alabama left port the very next day for her sea trials. On board were the mayor and mayores of Birkenhead, members of the Birkenhead council, and a small group of VIPs. Everyone was dressed in their best for this festive occasion. But, the sea trials were shorter than expexted. The Alabama soon put into Holyhead, a port in North Wales not far from Birkenhead. There was no time to lose. The guests were hurriedly put ashore and the Alabama sped back out to sea. Then, after evading the USS Tuscarra which had been sent to intercept her, set course for mid Atlantic. The Alabama was fitted out with heavy guns on the Azores.
And, into war she sailed.
In the course of her action packed life, The Alabama captured and destroyed 10 union ships in Mid-Atlantic. She sank the USS Hatteras in an amazingly brief 13 minute encounter. And, on a round the world jaunt, captured 84 merchant ships. The Alabama then met her match.
In a spectacular sea fight, the Alabama was defeated and sunk just off the French coast near Cherbourg. And, the captain and crew were rescued by cheering spectators. But, this story had a very expensive end.
The damages caused by the Alabama were enormous. In the end, the British had to pay more than 15 million dollars in compensation. An enormous price for weekend closing. But, the Alabama was not the only British built ship to cause damage. Maybe,15 million dollars was not such a high price to pay. It's short term and long term. It's all how you see it. Ship building then made very much money.
The Alabama. A ship built in Britain. A ship with a story.
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