US Ship Plans--US National Archives

[Nightmoss]

I was digging around on the Internet today looking to see if I could track down some reliable online ship plans for 18th and 19th century US ships. I found one website where they offer National Archives plans as reprints, but without some reliable images I'm not likely to place orders sight unseen. http://marylandsilver.com/Ship.htm



Consequently, I tried searching the Archives directly using images on the web. Clearly if you have access to the physical collections you can have them make copies although I don't know if they're from microfilm or in house prints?

Here's the Record Hierarchy I found for one USS Constitution sail plane that came up on the web:

Record Group 19:
Records of the Bureau of Ships, 1940 - 1966 Series:
Ship Design and Construction Drawings, 1862 - 1909 Item:
USS Constitution, Outboard Profile with Sail Plan, 1817

The image can be found here:

https://research.archives.gov/id/5956232

More images are showing up, but not some of the US ships I see listed on that website above. Those I'd like to see include the USS Pennsylvania, USS Independence, USS Franklin, etc. I wish there was more content available online? In any case here are some other images you might enjoy viewing:

https://research.archives.gov/search...naIdSort%20asc

Cheers!

[Hjl]

Fascinating stuff! I'm studying for a degree in marine engineering at the moment and am specializing in naval architecture. I have been looking for historical ship hull lines for a while. It's just a shame that there are no tables of offsets anywhere to be found!

Ps. Have a reputation point!

[David Manley]

Fascinating stuff! I'm studying for a degree in marine engineering at the moment and am specializing in naval architecture. I have been looking for historical ship hull lines for a while. It's just a shame that there are no tables of offsets anywhere to be found!

Ps. Have a reputation point!

Such a table, or at least a body plan can probably be found at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. They have a lines plan of HMS President and general arrangement drawings

[Hjl]

Yes I had heard that they have a good selection. The trouble is that most of it is not online and it's rather a long drive from Texas.

[Coog]

Yes I had heard that they have a good selection. The trouble is that most of it is not online and it's rather a long drive from Texas.

I recommend the following:

http://www.sailsofglory.org/showthre...n-Sailing-Navy

Not sure where you are in Texas (perhaps Texas A&M, College Station or Galveston?), but it can be found at some Half Price Books. It is also fairly inexpensive on eBay.

[David Manley]

Yes I had heard that they have a good selection. The trouble is that most of it is not online and it's rather a long drive from Texas.

Try herehttp://prints.rmg.co.uk/category/ship-plansI'm sure their president drawings are online. I recall seeing them when we were engaged in a previous discussion here about ships' lines.Good career choice, btw - I've been a naval architect working on RN warships, submarines and auxiliaries for nearly 30 years

[David Manley]

And indeed....

[Hjl]

I recommend the following:

Not sure where you are in Texas (perhaps Texas A&M, College Station or Galveston)

I am at TAMU Galveston. That's quite a piece of deduction there! Are you an aggie yourself?

Try herehttp://prints.rmg.co.uk/category/ship-plansI'm sure their president drawings are online. I recall seeing them when we were engaged in a previous discussion here about ships' lines.Good career choice, btw - I've been a naval architect working on RN warships, submarines and auxiliaries for nearly 30 years

Thanks! You have basically got my dream job!

Oh wow, that link is a gold mine!

[Nightmoss]

Fascinating stuff! I'm studying for a degree in marine engineering at the moment and am specializing in naval architecture. I have been looking for historical ship hull lines for a while. It's just a shame that there are no tables of offsets anywhere to be found!

Ps. Have a reputation point!

Thank you for the rep point. As David said you'd have to go a long way to beat what's available from the Royal Museums Greenwich. You can also buy those plans in case you've not discovered that yet? I wish other nations would convert their resources to online access as well as the British have. Cheers.

http://rmg-dev.sites.ac/contact/buy-ship-plans

[Tordenskjold]

perhaps this link is useful:
http://www.orlogsbasen.dk/enkel.htm

Just type the ship name
Morten

[Tordenskjold]

Just type the ship name
Morten

Ok...it is mostly constructions of Danish Orlorgsskibe (warships) but there is something on eg. Victory

[Bligh]

Just run across this.
It is a super resource thanks Dave and co for highlighting it.
Rob.