Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 24:55-25:06

Could flooding help an Orlando aim at USS Monitor?

A viewer proposes flooding the firing side to lower the guns toward Monitor's low hull, reversing a method used to gain elevation.

Alternate HistoryGun DepressionNaval GunneryOrlando Class Armoured CruisersUSS Monitor
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Question

Could flooding one side let an Orlando depress its guns enough to hit USS Monitor?

Short answer

Potentially. Flooding the firing side might provide the extra depression needed, but the idea receives only a tentative endorsement.

Notes

Flooding the firing side could heel an Orlando and point its guns farther down at USS Monitor. The suggestion reverses the use of flooding on the opposite side to gain elevation. The idea remains tentative, with no detailed procedure worked out. It belongs to the hypothetical encounter with Monitor, whose low hull had already raised a gun-depression problem.