Archeology on wreak of HMS Eribus
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
crewman
Active member
Michael Palin wrote a book about this ship. Interesting read.
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
Indeed, but he didn't pay enough attention to James Clark Ross' SECOND penetration of Antarctic waters in 1843! I declare an interest!
What impressed me when I did the research was the high accuracy of James Clark Ross' navigation. Where I was able to check positions against modern mapping, they were accurate to better than a nautical mile - much better usually. I was able to use the expedition accounts to determine that Admiralty Sound was blocked by an ice-shelf at the western end. in 1843.
Wansworth
Well-known member
Yes it’s extraordinary these navigators how accurate they became and how daring exploringuncharted waters in seemingly cumbersome square riggers
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
Yes - and bomb ketches, while admirably suited to ice navigation because of their strong scantlings to withstand the recoil of the mortars that were their primary weapon, were notoriously poor sailers, despite being disarmed and rerigged for exploratory voyages.
That said, according to her track in the expedition accounts, she was tacking through about 120°, so about 60° off the wind - not bad for a square-rigged vessel.
I'm not quite sure, but although she was fitted with an auxiliary steam engine for Franklin's expedition, I don't think she had one for Ross' expedition.
Later: I checked and the steam engines (25hp!) were installed for the Franklin expedition.
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