Philadelphia American Gunboat 1776

Name: Philadelphia American Gunboat 1776

• Cat. No. WM:008
• Scale: 1:72
• Lenght: 238 mm
• Width: 117 mm
• Height: 210 mm
• Quantity in package: 1 piece
• Type of packaging: Box (350x250x50 mm)

Laser-Cut Kit includes:

• all parts cut by laser
• arrangement of planks on decks and boards engrave by laser
• laser cutted and profiled desks of planking
• photo-etched brass parts
• gun barrels
• wooden dowels for masts and yards
• blocks, deadeyes and hearts
• metal fittings
• laser cut sails
• ropes of different thickness
• flag
• colorful instruction illustrate by many pictures and descriptions which showes not only step by step stages of building but also includes techniques of gluing and painting on rules of detailed guide
• Language: German, English, Polish

Gunboat Philadelphia was one of thirteen small vessels built in 1776 on Lake Champlain during the American Revolutionary War. It was constructed within a few weeks in the town of Whitehall (then Skenesborough) in the state of New York, under the supervision of Benedict Arnold.Philadelphia belonged to the so-called "Lake Champlain Fleet," whose task was to delay the British invasion from Canada. It was a small wooden ship,16.2 meters long. The armament consisted of a 12-pounder gun at the bow, two 9-pounder guns, and eight 3-pounder swivel guns. The crew numbered about 45–50 men. The ship was launched in August 1776. Philadelphia joined Arnold's forces, who made a desperate attempt to stop the advancing British fleet.The key engagement was the Battle of Valcour Island on October 11, 1776. The American flotilla was much weaker in both technical and numerical terms than the British. Philadelphia fought in the front line, inflicting some losses on the enemy. During the battle, however, the ship was heavily damaged. Shortly afterward, it  sank, taking with it a portion of Lake Champlain's defenses. Most of the crew were rescued and evacuated to other vessels. Although the Americans lost the battle,  they delayed the British march for an entire year. This gave the colonists time to prepare for victory at Saratoga (1777). Philadelphia lay on the bottom of the lake for over 150 years. The wreck was discovered in 1935 by American archaeologist Lorenzo Hagglund. He managed to lift and preserve the nearly intact vessel. The hull still contained a cannonball, which had likely caused its sinking. Philadelphia has become  one  of  the  most  famous shipwrecks in the United States. Today, it can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The wreck is displayed together with numerous artifacts recovered from the ship, such as weapons, tools, clothing, and personal belongings of the American sailors. The Philadelphia is the only gunboat from Arnold's fleet preserved to this day.