CSS Nansemond - the Lego version!

One of the historic naval ships that will be available for visitors to build at our 3rd annual Lego Shipbuilding event on February 8, 2014, is the CSS Nansemond. The Nansemond was a twin-screw gunboat from the American Civil War, and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum has a model of this ship on display in the gallery.

CSS Nansemond

The Lego design for this ship was created by our youngest volunteer, 11-year-old Zachary Webb. Zachary came to the museum one day over Thanksgiving break and spent a couple hours working on the design for CSS Nansemond. He had a few requirements to meet: 1) the Lego ship couldn't be longer than 11" in length; 2) the ship had to be made entirely of "regular" Legos--which means he couldn't use specialty pieces; and 3) it had to be of medium difficulty. Zachary did an awesome job, and we are so thankful for his help with this ship! Here's a photograph of Zachary's version of the CSS Nansemond with an image of the ship model right behind it. That will help you to see how close the Lego version is to the real thing!

Lego version of CSS Nansemond

You can come to the Naval Museum and build this ship on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at our Lego Shipbuilding event. The event is completely FREE of charge and will be held from 10am to 5pm. It's for children and adults, and also includes a Lego shipbuilding contest! To find out more information about the event, visit our Facebook page and click on "Events" or contact laura.l.orr@navy.mil with any questions. See you there!

USS Savannah Hit By Radio-Controlled Bomb, 1943

By Elijah Palmer

Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator



The picture above shows the aftermath of an aerial attack on the Norfolk-based USS Savannah (CL-42) off of Salerno, Italy, and an unknown PT-Boat attempting to lay smoke as cover in 1943. On the morning of September 11, 1943, anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes targeted a slow-moving German plane above the US fleet off of Salerno, Italy, but could not stop an object that the plane had fired. Soon, an explosion ripped through the light cruiser USS Savannah, causing serious damage and loss of life. The ship had been hit by an advanced German weapon that the fleet was ill-prepared to meet.

The Norfolk-based Savannah was a series of pre-World War II light cruisers that were used during the war as shore bombardment vessels. 

Commissioned in 1938, Savannah stopped in Norfolk a handful of times before World War II. In late 1942, she was included in the Northern Attack Group (part of Western Naval Task Force), when it sailed from Norfolk in October 1942. As part of Operation Torch, Savannah saw combat action off Morocco in support of the amphibious landings there. By January she had been assigned to help patrol the South Atlantic. Once there, the ship was teamed with the USS Santee (CVE-29) and several destroyers. Returning to the United States after a few months, Savannah sailed out from Norfolk in May 1943, heading for the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout the summer, she supported operations in Sicily and southern Italy, proving very effective in naval gunfire support against German shore targets. On occasion, the ship’s crew also provided medical care for wounded soldiers.

On September 11, disaster struck. The Germans launched a high-tech weapon against the ships offshore. This weapon was the “Fritz X” radio-guided bomb. The Germans used this anti-ship bomb largely in the Mediterranean. The attack on Savannah came shortly after a bomb narrowly missed her sister ship, USS Philadelphia (CL-43). It also came three days after several Fritz X bombs sank the Italian battleship Roma, killing over 1,250 men. The Allies quickly began work on countermeasures for these bombs beginning in August 1943, but effective means were not completed until early 1944, so the fleet at Salerno was vulnerable. 

The Fritz X was an air-dropped, radio-guided missile used by the German air force as an anti-ship weapon. With a 705-lb armor-piercing warhead, it was a weapon to be feared. 

The bomb that hit Savannah went through the top of the No. 3 turret and continued down three decks before exploding in the lower ammunition handling room. The explosion ripped a hole in the keel and part of the port side. The crew fought fires and sealed up the damage, getting the ship underway by the afternoon. After temporary repairs in Malta, the ship sailed for the Philadelphia Naval Yard for eight months of serious repair work. The bravery of these men saved the ship, but the cost of the attack was high. 197 men died, and over a dozen were seriously wounded.

After being repaired, USS Savannah returned to Norfolk and in early 1945 had the honor of sailing as part of the escort for USS Quincy (CA-71), which was carrying President Franklin Roosevelt to the Mediterranean on his way to the famous Yalta conference with Josef Stalin and Winston Churchill. Savannah served as part of the President’s convoy on his return to the United States.

Brick by Brick: Lego Shipbuilding 2014

Calling all Lego ship builders!  On Saturday, February 8, from 10am to 5pm, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum will bring back its “blockbuster” LEGO Shipbuilding event for a third year. This FREE program invites LEGO shipbuilders of all ages to share their creations with fellow enthusiasts on one exciting day – and compete for fabulous prizes!

This popular signature event is presented in partnership with the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation, the Naval Historical Foundation, and Bricks 4 Kidz.  Children and adults alike can bring their pre-constructed LEGO ships (either from a kit or from scratch) to display at the museum prior to 2pm on February 8th. HRNM will award prizes for five winning age categories, along with a new category this year—“fan favorite”—voted on by YOU!

Don’t have a ship made already but want to be part of the contest? Never fear! Throughout the day, visitors can stop by a free-play station and build their own ships. Educators will also be on hand to share the science behind building ships with LEGOs. In addition, visitors can create historic naval ships from HRNM’s own diagrams. Each year, staff members add new ships to their on-site brick fleet. New ships this year include the USS Onondaga, USS Maine, and CSS Nansemond.

Several LEGO-related activities will accompany the event, so be sure to bring your creativity to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Please note: all creations made with HRNM-owned LEGOs must stay at the museum. 

For all questions and inquiries, please contact Laura Orr at laura.l.orr@navy.mil or 757-322-3108, or visit HRNM’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HRNavalMuseum.

The Trial of USS Chesapeake's Lieutenant Cox

The newest issue of The Daybook is now online. In this issue, Lieutenant Cox is put on trial for losing the frigate USS Chesapeake. Fair trial or convenient scapegoat for one of the Navy's worst defeats? Read it and decide for yourself. This issue also introduces readers to William Brown, Chesapeake's African American sailor who was put on trial before Cox. In addition, this issue discusses the connection between sci-fi master Robert Heinlein and the frigate Chesapeake!

If you want to receive a paper copy of this issue and future issues, you must become a member of the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation. Go to its website or call Captain Tom at 757-445-9932!