NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS&TRUSTEES: Chairman, Howard Slom ick; Vice Chairmen, Richard o R. Lopes, Edward G. Zelinsky; Vice Presidents, Burchenal Green , Norma Sranford; Treasurer, Wi lliam H. Whire; Secretary, Marshall Srreiberr; Trustees, Donald M. Birney, Walrer R. Brown, Sabato Ca w cci, Richard T. du Moul in, David Fowler, Jack Gaffney, Fred C. Hawkins, Rodney N. Hou ghton , Sreve n W. Jon es, Richard M. Larrabee, 11, Warren G. Leback, Guy E. C. Maidand , Karen E. Markoe, M ichael R. McKay, James J. McNamara, David A. O 'N eil , Ronald L. O swald, David Plarrner, Craig A. C. Reynolds, Bradford D . Smirh , David B. Vieror, Alexa nd er E. Zagoreos; Chairmen Emeriti, Alan G. C hoare, Guy E. C. Maidand, C raig A. C. Reynolds; President Emeritus, Perer Sranford FOUNDER: Karl Korwm (1917-1996) OVERSEERS: Chairman, RADM David C. Brown; Walrer Cronk.ire, Alan D. Hu rchison , Jakob Isbrandrsen,John Lehman , Warren Marr, 11, Brian A. McAJl isrer, John Stobarr, Wi lliam G. Winrerer A.DV1SORS: Co-Chairmen, Frank O . Braynard , MelbourneS mirh ; D.K. Abbass, Raymond Aker, Geo rge F. Bass, Francis E. Bowker, Oswald L. Bren , No rman J. Brouwer, RADM Joseph F. C allo, Francis J. Duffy, John W. Ewald, Joseph L. Farr, Timorhy Foore, Wi lliam Gi lkerson , T homas C. Gi llm er, Walrer J . Handelman, C harles E. H erdendorf, Sreven A. H yman, Haj o Knuuel, G unnar Lundeberg, Co nrad M ilster, Wi lliam G. Mu ller, David E. Perkins, Nancy Hughes Richardso n, T imorhy J. Runyan , Shanno n J. Wall , Thomas W ells NMH SSTAFF: ChiefofStaff,B urchenal G reen; Director ofEducation, David B. Allen; Development. As1drew Scri van; Membership Coordinator, Nancy Schnaars; Membership Secretary, Irene Eisenfeld; Membership Assistant, Asrn Makelainen; Accounting, Jill Romeo; Secretmy to the President, Karen Rirell ;SEA HISTORY STAFF: Editor,]usrine AJ1lsrrom ; Executive Editor, Norma Sranford; Editor at Large, Perer Scan fo rd ; Advertising, Marin Engler
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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
The other day I was riding on the commuter ferry between Haverstraw and Ossining, New York. I was reading the latest issue of Sea History when a fellow passenger asked abo ut the magazine. I showed it to him and explained about the National Maritime Historical Sociery. H e was so interested that I gave him my copy. Several other passe ngers overheard this exchan ge and I ended up giving out the few remaining co pies of Sea History that I had in my bri efcase . As a volunteer for NMHS, I know that we are always looking for new members. It dawned on me that if we had complimentary copi es of Sea History at marinas and ferry terminals, we might find so me new members. Therefore, I'm putting out a call for some volun teers. If anyone would be wi llin g to drop off comp limentary copies of Sea History magazine at local marinas, ferries and other boat-oriented sites, or even at th eir doctors' offi ces or other waiting rooms, please call NMHS at 1-800-221-6647 or email us at nmhs@seahistory. org. We'll get the magazines to you ASAP. Let's increase our membership and ensure the continuing ben efits ofNMHS! JOYCE RIESS New C iry, New Yo rk
We are currently working with The Bowditch Initiative in Salem, Massachusetts, on an article on Nathaniel Bowditch for an upcoming issue.-ED.
Leudi di Liguria (in Italian), shows several
ERRATA & ADDENDA
Having served in three different destroyers of three different classes, Quick (DMS 32/ DD 49 0), Hazelwood (DD 531) and Ozbourn (DD 846) , during m y naval service, I read Dr. Winkler's fine article, "A Centennial of American Destroye rs," in Sea History 100 with great interes t. I wish to point out one inaccurate statement co ncerning the Sumner/Gearing-class FRAM I refos with rega rd to the ASROC install ation. The ASROC launching system was largely self-contained, with mi ss ile reloads housed in a magazine aft of the launcher location topside. Th is arrangement did not require "a section added between engine compartments to host the ASROC launcher," and no lengthening of the hulls of these ships was ever ca rri ed out. C DR THOMAS M. PERKJNS, USN (RET) Port Orchard, Washington
In Pete Seeger's letter on page 29 of Sea History 100 (reprin ted from SH 7) he writes: "In the 15th century Iralian sailors with their square-sailed ships were amazed to see Arab ships literally sailing rings around them with their triangular lateen rigs." Actually, the prevalence oflateen-rigged ships in the Mediterranean began much earlier. There is evidence (some inscriptions and bas-reli efs) that the Romans knew the triangular-s haped sails Jong befo re the Arab arrival in the Mediterranean world. This kind of rig, however, was quite uncommon. From the 7 th century on , the lateen sail becam e universal in the Mediterranean area, probably sp read by the Arab expansion of that time. T he Cronica of G iovan ni Vi ll ani tells us th at in the yea r 1304 the first ships of a new kind, the Northern European "coccas" (o r cogs) arrived in the Mediterranean from Bayonne in Gascony. Of course, their ri g was more advanced than the square ri g used in class ical times by Greeks and Romans. From the 14th century on, as a rule, only quite large ships used square sails in the Mediterranean area. Medium and small ships went on using lateen sails until the end of the era of sail. There still survives in Liguria a gro up of small latee n-ri gged sailing vessels called "leudi ." My new booklet,
pictures of them. GIOVANN I P ANELLA
Genoa, Italy
David Winkler responds: Your comments are appreciated. After going back to my sources I find I was a victim ofbad folklore. Actually, with the Gearing class, a section was added when they were first built, for extra fa.el capacity. Otherwise, they are identical to the Sumner class. I'm gladyou pointed this out as the Naval Historical Foundation is involved in producing a video based on the article and we'd hate to replicate that error. SEA HISTORY I 01 , SUMMER 2002