Concrete Ships

[Enigma]

Saw this sticking out of the water the other day in Cape May, and it reminded me that ya'll may be interested. Our WWI era concrete ships!

http://www.concreteships.org/ships/ww1/atlantus/IMG_2679_500.jpg


http://www.concreteships.org/

[August]

We have one that sank at the entrance to Narragansett bay in 1920 after colliding with another ship. It's 150ft down right in the middle of the shipping lane but i've always wanted to dive on her.

[UnderseaLcpl]

I've heard of these but never seen any of the wrecks. Cool pic Enigma, do you have any other shots?

[AVGWarhawk]

I summered in Cape May a few times. I have seen this concrete ship. That was some time ago when I was a kid.

[SteamWake]

built of concrete during the First World War, but "proven impractical because of weight."built of concrete during the First World War, but "proven impractical because of weight.

With the advances that have been made in lightweight concrete and other mastics perhaps it is time to re-evaluate this idea.

[Tribesman]

With the advances that have been made in lightweight concrete and other mastics perhaps it is time to re-evaluate this idea.
It is always being evaluated . You will find all sorts here , even concrete submarines.....
http://www.ferroboats.com/
Though my favourite which I cannot find a link to at the moment is a reproduction of a Carrack made of concrete

[Spike88]

So what is the exact purpose of a concrete ship? :hmmm:

[Platapus]

So what is the exact purpose of a concrete ship? :hmmm:

The purpose of a concrete ship is to float. :har:

I think you are actually asking for the rational of a concrete ship over over a steel ship. :D That would be a less expensive and more available material. Concrete ships free up steel for other wartime industries.

[Spike88]

So what is the exact purpose of a concrete ship? :hmmm:
The purpose of a concrete ship is to float. :har:

I think you are actually asking for the rational of a concrete ship over over a steel ship. :D That would be a less expensive and more available material. Concrete ships free up steel for other wartime industries.
Yeah. That makes sense. I was trying to figure out what the exact use was. Although I could see how they could make good ramming boats. Just head straight into a steel ship and live to tell about it.

[Platapus]

I guess it is not just an old technology either

http://www.ferroboats.com/

[Fr8monkey]

Reminds me of the Top Secret "Ice Ships" From WWII.

http://www.combinedops.com/Pykrete.htm

[Tribesman]

[QUOTE][I guess it is not just an old technology either
/QUOTE]
With the new and continuing developments with both elasticisers and reinforcement the potential is growing

[A Very Super Market]

Ice ships were good on paper. The actual reason the carrier wasn't built was because of money issues and the fact that it was 1942 already.

[bookworm_020]

I guess they would provide a challenge to scrappers!:doh:

[Platapus]

And they were not so good in the South Pacific I would imagine. :06:

Pilot: is it my imagination but is that new ice carrier getting smaller?

[bookworm_020]

And they were not so good in the South Pacific I would imagine. :06:

Pilot: is it my imagination but is that new ice carrier getting smaller?


But at least the beer is staying cold!

[Letum]

Ice ships were good on paper. The actual reason the carrier wasn't built was because of money issues and the fact that it was 1942 already.
That was far from the only problem with the idea.
The amount of paper/wood needed could not be produced with out very severe impact
on the rest of the war effort and there where many issues about how it would be
constructed; not least because of it's weight.