2-913-897 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Sunken Ships at the Mouth of the Harbour of Sebastopol, sketched by Lieut. Montagu O'Reilly, H.M.S. Retribution, 1854. Crimean War. View of '...vessels sunk by the Russians for the defence of the harbour...[They are:] A 50-gun frigate, an 80-gun ship, another ship of 120 guns, two 80-gun ships, an 80-gun old hulk, and a 50-gun frigate. The part of the vessels which remains above the surface of the sea has been daubed over with pitch, and loaded with inflammable matters, for the purpose of being set fire to should the vessels of the Allied fleets attempt to enter...As the solid mass represented by the fire-ships and two frigates now under water is about 21,000 tons in weight...the only mode of removing the obstruction must be blasting...Messrs. Armstrong, of Newcastle, are busily employed executing an order from the Admiralty for the construction of apparatus for that purpose'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.