In the history of commerce warfare, CSS Alabama was the most successful raider in terms of numbers of vessels prized. The devastation caused by the Alabama has frequently been cited as one cause of the decline of US international shipping in the latter half of the nineteenth century. An immediate consequence was the 900 percent rise in insurance rates for US-flag ships, and the resulting transfer of some 900 ships to foreign registry. 

After the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, the Confederate ports were blockaded by the Union warships. To break the blockage, the Confederacy ordered a large and powerful steam ship designed to attack the Union merchantmen and also for defense purposes. In June 1861 Lairds Shipyard in Birkenhead, England began to build a sleek vessel. When this ship was launched in July 1862 it attracted the attention of the American ambassador in England. Enquiries of the British authorities were fruitless and so the vessel under the designation Enrica set off on her trial run, never to return.

A month later the Enrica anchored in a harbor in the Azores, was armed and taken over by her new Captain Raphael Semmes. Flying the Confederate flag, the warship, now renamed the CSS Alabama, embarked on her commerce raids.

CSS Alabama spent the next two months capturing and burning ships in the North Atlantic and intercepting grain ships bound for Europe. Continuing her path of destruction through the West Indies, CSS Alabama sank USS Hatteras along the Texas coast. After that, CSS Alabama sailed for the East Indies where she spent six months destroying seven more ships. In total, the CSS Alabama sunk 62 vessels, mostly merchant ships.

Due to the increasing presence of Union warships, on 11th June 1864, CSS Alabama sailed into the French port of Cherbourg. This news reached the commander of the USS Kearsarge, leading to the famous sea battle off the French coast on 19th June. In a 60-minute battle the opponents pursued each other mercilessly. Due to the superior firing accuracy of the Kearsarge cannon, the CSS Alabama was grievously damaged and finally abandoned.



Following the war, the United States insisted that Britain be held liable for the destruction wrought by British-built commerce raiders. These proceedings came to be known as the Alabama claims, as CSS Alabama alone accounted for as much as $5 million in losses. The claims were finally resolved under the Treaty of Washington (1871), by which the United States and Great Britain submitted to arbitration by an international tribunal composed of representatives from Britain, the United States, Italy, Switzerland, and Brazil. The tribunal found that Britain had not exercised "due diligence" and awarded the United States $15.5 million in damages.

On November 7, 1984, French divers from the minesweeper Circle discovered the remains of the CSS Alabama lying in about 195 feet of water six miles off Cherbourg. The site is now under the protection of a joint French and American authority.

We build this primarily wood CSS Alabama model in two sizes:

27" long x 16" tall x 7" wide  $2,990   Shipping and insurance in the contiguous US included. Other places: $350 flat rate. This model is in stock and can be shipped within five business days.

36" long x 24" tall x 11" wide $3,925  Shipping and insurance in the contiguous US included. Other places: $450 flat rate. Made to order only. We require only a small deposit to start the process: $900   The remaining balance won't be due until the model is completed, in 9 months.

"She made it into port unscathed and fully intact. Y'all did an amazing awesome job with it. I really love it. It deserves to be on constant display in my living room where it can be seen by anyone who enters in. Thank you very much for keeping me informed and paying attention to detail so heavily. Hope the best for you. Keep on keeping on. Sincerely, LB CSS Alabama model owner." 

Learn more about the CSS Alabama here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Alabama