United States floating battery Demologos

Demologos, the first steam warship
Demologos, first steam warship
History
United States
NameDemologos or Fulton
Ordered1814
Buildercompany belonging to Robert Fulton
Laid down20 June 1814
Launched29 October 1814
CommissionedJune 1816
FateBlown up, 4 June 1829
General characteristics
Class and typeSteam battery
Displacement1,450 tons
Length153 ft 2 in (46.69 m)
Beam58 ft (18 m)
Draft13 ft (4.0 m)
PropulsionSteam, 1 cylinder 120 hp (89 kW)
Speed5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph)
Armament30 × 32-pounder guns 2 × 100-pounder Columbiads fitted to fire at enemy ships below their waterline[1]
Armor5' reinforced timber planking

Demologos was the first warship to be propelled by a steam engine. She was a wooden floating battery built to defend New York Harbor from the Royal Navy during the War of 1812. The vessel was designed to a unique pattern by Robert Fulton, and was renamed Fulton after his death. Because of the prompt end of the war, Demologos never saw action, and no other ship like her was built.

  1. ^ "Chapter 11". www.museum.state.il.us.