Anyone made a ship-mill?

[Chris Pringle]

I think it would be a cool terrain item to have:
https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2019/07/unusual-terrain-item-ship-mill.html

Chris

Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info

[Steve J]

It certainly would Chris

[steve_holmes_11]

I recall an account of one of the Napoleonic battles (Aspern Esseling), where a "Mill" was sent downstream in an attempt to cut the bridges.

At the time I wondered at the engineering effort to drop a building into a river, and indeed whether it would provide the necessary buoyancy.
It seems very likely that the mill in question was one of these ship mills.


From an engineering perspective, it's an excellent solution to the problem of broad, flat slow-moving waterways with variable water level.
Contrast with the traditional watermill with pool / weir, sluices and flume / race.

[FierceKitty]

From an engineering perspective, it's an excellent solution to the problem of broad, flat slow-moving waterways with variable water level.
Contrast with the traditional watermill with pool / weir, sluices and flume / race.

Good point.

[Chris Pringle]

Aspern-Essling? Excellent find!

And the answer to my question is yes, at least one wargamer has done it:
http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2015/07/shipmill-scratchbuilt.html

Chris

[steve_holmes_11]

Aspern-Essling? Excellent find!

And the answer to my question is yes, at least one wargamer has done it:
http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2015/07/shipmill-scratchbuilt.html

Chris

Excellent stuff!

His rough description of its control gives me a few good ideas.
How do you position your "ship mill" in the strongest current, yet retain the ability to berth it for loading and unloading.

1. Tether to a fixed point on the bank, pay out retaining roles and rudders on the ship control its facing (think of flying a kite, but in two dimensions).

2. Strong piles close to the current, and more on the bank, a windlass aboard permits the mill to "crab" out to the current or back to the bank, much like a modern chain ferry.
    2a. Extra credit for students who link the windlass to the mill-wheel. The mill now powers itself from midstream to bank (and back if you engineered a reverse gear).

3. Dangle the mill downstream form a bridge, you can now tow it sideways to the back, or pull it in to a dock built into the bridge.
    (This one won't work on a tidal stretch of the river unless you have elaborate arrangements to pass the mill under the bridge every turn of tide).

[steve_holmes_11]

When I first read "Ship Mill" I wondered whether it was this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Mill

A mill built from old ship's timbers.