ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> <title>CSS Alabama</title> <meta name="DESCRIPTION" content="Brief history of CSS Alabama and information on preservation of the wreck"> <meta name="keywords" content="shipwrecks, sunken ships"> <link href="/layout/NHHC_styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <style type="text/css"> <!-- .style1 {color: #FFFFFF} --> </style> <script> function removeBadCaracters(){ var searchString = document.forms[0].SearchString.value; searchString = searchString.replace(/[^*-z, -%,']+/g,""); document.forms[0].SearchString.value = searchString; } function launchLink(rstrURL) { if (rstrURL.indexOf("http")!=-1) { alert("The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of the Navy of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. 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Launched as <i>Enrica</i>, the vessel was fitted out as a cruiser and commissioned as CSS <i>Alabama</i> on 24 August 1862. Under Captain Raphael Semmes, <i>Alabama</i> spent the next two months capturing and burning ships in the North Atlantic and intercepting American grain ships bound for Europe. Continuing its path of destruction through the West Indies, <i>Alabama</i> sank USS <i>Hatteras</i> near Galveston, Texas and captured its crew. After visiting Cape Town, South Africa <i>Alabama</i> sailed for the East Indies where it spent the next six months cruising for enemy shipping. While there, the formidable commerce raider destroyed seven more ships before redoubling the Cape of Good Hope and returning to Europe.<br> </p> <p>On 11 June 1864 <i>Alabama</i> arrived at Cherbourg, France and Captain Semmes requested the permission of city officials to dock and overhaul his ship. Three days later, the sloop-of-war USS <i>Kearsarge</i>, which had been pursuing the raider, arrived off Cherbourg and began patrolling just outside of the harbor. On June 19, <i>Alabama</i> sailed out of Cherbourg to engage <i>Kearsarge</i>. As <i>Kearsarge</i> turned to meet its opponent, <i>Alabama</i> opened fire. <i>Kearsarge</i>&#x2019;s crew waited until the distance between both vessels closed to less than 1,000 yards before returning fire. According to survivors of the battle, the two ships steamed on opposite circular courses as each commander tried to cross the bow of his opponent to deliver a heavy raking fire. The battle quickly turned against <i>Alabama</i> due to the poor quality of its powder and shells; by contrast, <i>Kearsarge</i> benefited from additional protection provided by chain cables along its sides. <br> <br> </p> <p>Approximately one hour after firing the first shot, <i>Alabama</i> had been reduced to a rapidly sinking hulk. According to witnesses, <i>Alabama</i> fired 150 rounds to the <i>Kearsarge</i>&#x2019;s 100. When a shell fired by <i>Kearsarge</i> tore open a section of <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s hull at the waterline, seawater quickly rushed through the cruiser and forced it to the bottom. Semmes subsequently struck his colors and sent a boat to surrender to his opponent. Although <i>Kearsarge</i>&#x2019;s crew rescued most of the raider&#x2019;s survivors, the British yacht <i>Deerhound</i> picked up Semmes and 41 others who escaped to England. During its two-year career as a commerce raider, <i>Alabama</i> inflicted considerable disorder and devastation on United States merchant shipping throughout the globe. The Confederate cruiser claimed more than 60 prizes with a total value of approximately $6,000,000.<br> <br> </p> <p><b>The Wreck</b><br> <br> </p> <p>One hundred and twenty years after <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s loss, the French Navy mine hunter Circe discovered a wreck in approximately 200 feet of water off Cherbourg, France. French Navy Commander Max Guerout later confirmed that the wreck represented <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains.<br> <br> </p> <p>In 1988, the non-profit organization Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> was founded to conduct scientific exploration of the shipwreck. Although <i>Alabama</i> is within French territorial waters, the United States government claims ownership of the wreck as a spoil of war. On October 3, 1989 the United States and France signed an agreement that recognized CSS <i>Alabama</i> as an important heritage resource of both nations and established a joint French-American Scientific Committee to oversee archaeological investigation of the wreck. Ratification of the agreement established a precedent for international cooperation as it applies to archaeological research, as well as the protection of unique historic shipwrecks.<br> <br> </p> <p>At the behest of the Naval Historical Center, members of the National Park Service&#x2019;s Submerged Resources Center (NPS-SRC) traveled to Cherbourg in June 1993 to evaluate the French archaeological team responsible for investigating <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains. This was the first time that American archaeologists actually visited the site; during previous visits, American scholars and scientists were only able to observe videotape of the French team at work, or debrief divers once they returned to the surface. NPS-SRC reported to the Director of Naval History that the French archaeologists conducted quality work at <i>Alabama</i>, despite difficult on-site conditions. <br> <br> </p> <p>On March 23, 1995 the Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> and the Naval Historical Center signed an official agreement granting the former responsibility for the archaeological investigation of <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains. This agreement was effective for five years and could be renewed by mutual consent once the five-year limit expired. In 1999, the CSS <i>Alabama</i> Association (based in Mobile, Alabama) joined the French organization to actively support investigating <i>Alabama</i>. Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> and CSS <i>Alabama</i> Association continue to promote the international scope of the project by raising funds in France and the United States.<br> <br> </p> <p>In July 2002, the Naval Historical Center and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) collaborated on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations to assist an archaeological investigation of <i>Alabama</i>. The Institute for International Maritime Research Inc. based in Washington, N.C. carried out the 2002 project for the CSS <i>Alabama</i> Association and the Association CSS <i>Alabama</i>. Dr. Gordon P. Watts, Jr. served as Principal Investigator. The 2002 investigations mark 18 years of previous research at the <i>Alabama</i> wreck site.<br> <br> </p> <p>In spite of generally poor weather conditions, French and American archaeologists, French volunteer divers, and French Navy personnel continued excavation of the site and recovered a number of small &#x201C;at risk&#x201D; artifacts, as well as one of <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s two riding bitts. The 2002 investigations recovered a total of 19 objects, including the ship&#x2019;s bell and its mounting bracket. The ROV phase of operations focused on providing digital video and photographic documentation for the production of a geo-referenced photomosaic of <i>Alabama</i>. The NSWCCD ROV work platform included a RESON Seabat 6012, an Insite Tritech Scorpio Plus Digital Still TV Camera, a pair of Nuytco 200-watt Newlites, and an ORE Trackpoint II Plus Ultra Short Base line (USBL) system. Unfortunately, unpredictable environmental factors constrained ROV operations and thwarted efforts to develop a complete site photomosaic. Despite these problems, the 2002 ROV operations collected approximately 10 hours of quality video and more than 1,816 still images over the course of two dive periods totaling only six days. In addition, use of the ROV permitted the Principal Investigator to maintain complete and real-time quality control over the data collection process.<br> <br> </p> <p>For the upcoming 2005 season, the Institute for International Maritime Research, Inc., will return to <i>Alabama</i> to conclude research that began with the wreck&#x2019;s initial discovery in 1984. Major research objectives for 2005 include: 1) mapping major elements of the exposed hull structure using an acoustic mapping system; 2) documenting the exposed wreck structure using 35-mm digital photography; 3) excavating the crew&#x2019;s quarters; 4) recovery of the aft pivot gun; and 5) selective recovery of mapped and documented &#x201C;at risk&#x201D; artifacts. In addition to completing the site investigation, Dr. Watts will begin drafting the final scientific report. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of the <i>Alabama</i> wreck site, from the time of its discovery through the final year of scientific research activities.<br> <br> <br> </p> <p> <br> </p> <p>Timeline:<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; 1984: French Navy mine hunter Circe discovers CSS <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains while conducting operational exercises off Cherbourg, France. French Navy Commander Max Guerout later confirms the wreck&#x2019;s identity.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; 1988: The non-profit organization Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> is founded to oversee and conduct archaeological investigation of <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains. <br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; October 1989: France and the United States sign an agreement that recognizes <i>Alabama</i> as an important heritage resource for both nations. In addition, a joint scientific committee is established to oversee archaeological investigation of the wreck. Ratification of this agreement establishes a precedent for international cooperation as it applies to archaeological research and protection of unique historic shipwrecks.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; 1988 &#150; 1995: Yearly archaeological investigations at the <i>Alabama</i> wreck site are conducted under the direction of Commander Guerout. <br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; June 1993: The Naval Historical Center requests that the National Park Service&#x2019;s Submerged Resources Center evaluate the performance of French archaeologists excavating <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains. The National Park Service&#x2019;s Submerged Resources Center reports favorably about the French efforts to document and study the wreck.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; March 1995: An official agreement granting Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> oversight responsibility for the archaeological investigation of <i>Alabama</i> is signed by the non-profit group and the Naval Historical Center. The agreement is effective for five years and can be renewed at the end of each five-year period by mutual consent.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; 1999: The non-profit group CSS <i>Alabama</i> Association is created in the United States to assist Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> with fund-raising efforts and actively support investigation of <i>Alabama</i>&#x2019;s remains.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; June 1999: After a three-year hiatus, field research at the <i>Alabama</i> wreck site resumes. The 1999 investigations are organized and carried out under the joint leadership of Association CSS <i>Alabama</i> and the CSS <i>Alabama</i> Association.<br> <br> </p> <p>&#x2022; July 2002: The Naval Historical Center and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division conduct remotely operated vehicle operations to assist the archaeological investigation of <i>Alabama</i>. </p> <p><b>Additional Information:</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="../photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-ag/alabama.htm">Images of CSS <i>Alabama</i></a> <li><a href="org12-1a.htm">Press Release: Recovery of Blakeley Gun</a> <i>28 March 1995</i> <li><a href="org12-1b.htm">Press Release: Field work on CSS <i>Alabama</i> Site</a> <i>31 July 1995</i> <li><a href="../docs/civilwar/64-6-19.htm">Reports for Sinking of CSS <i>Alabama </i>by USS <i>Kearsarge </i></a><i>19 June 1864</i> </ul> <br><br> <!---06 February 2012---> <!---End of content here ---> <div class="contentend"></div> </div> <!-- close content --> </div> <!-- close leftDropShadow --> </div> <!-- close rightDropShadow --> <div id="bottomDropShadow"></div> <div class="botNav"> <!-- start footer --> <a class="botNav_Link" href="/about/index.html">About Us</a> | <a class="botNav_Link" href="/warning.html">Privacy Policy</a> | <a class="botNav_Link" href="mailto:NHHCWebmaster@navy.mil">Webmaster</a> | <a class="botNav_Link" href="http://www.foia.navy.mil/" target="_blank">FOIA request</a> | <a class="botNav_Link" HREF="http://www.navy.com">Navy Careers</a> | <a class="botNav_Link" href="http://www.navy.mil">Navy.mil</a> | This is a US Navy website </div> <!-- end footer --> </div> <!-- end wrapper --> </body> </html>