Friedrich Wilhelm III

[Alan]

Does anyone know anything about a very early Prussian sidewheel ship - the Friedrich Wilhelm III?

I believe she was launched, or perhaps completed, in 1818.

The model I have seen steps just one mast - well fd of the wheels, and carrying a single square sail (from a yard).  Though there may have been a second mast that has broken off.  The tall, narrow funnel is just aft of the wheels.  There is a high deckhouse further back.
 
I'd be grateful for any information.
 
Eg where did she serve?  River, lake or estuary?
 
How long was she working?
 
What speed could she make?
 
Was she ever taken into naval service?
 
With thanks in anticipation,
 
Alan

[Hankwilliams]

Hi, Alan,

"Friedrich Wilhelm III" was the fourth ship of the first Steamboat Companie in Germany foundet 1815 by the English born Humphreys, father and son, in Berlin.
From the first steamboat "Prinzessin Charlotte" a good picture, some plans and sketches are existing. She was a centrewheeler and drives from October 1816 on between Berlin and Potsdam. The second Steamer, sidewheeler "Courier" opened in 1817 the steamboat connection for persons and cargo between Berlin and Hamburg on rivers Havel and Elbe.
1817/18 "Stadt Magteburg" and "Friedrich Wilhelm III" appeared for the same journey. In autumn 1819 the last and biggest boat was finished, the 200 ft sidewheeler "Fürst Blücher".

About the "Courier" and the later three steamboats of the Humphreys as far I know no pictures are maintained, however the dimensions and some fragments of plans about the boats and the Watt side lever engines are known.

"Friedrich Wilhelm III" was conzipatet as passenger and cargo boat. It was launched on 3. August 1818 and driven by the same 14 horse boat engine like the predecessors. Her dimensions were: Lenght 131 ft, wide of hull 13ft, 8 inches,
wide overall 22 ft, 10 inches, depth of hull 8 ft. 2 inches, draught when launched 1 ft, 6 inches, when loadet until 3 ft, 11 inches. Diameter of paddle wheels were 9 ft, breadth 3 ft, 6 inches. It was possible, to change the height of the paddlewheels according to the degree of loading.
The speed was approximate 1,25 german miles = 9,4 km/h.

All Humphrey boats were working until 1821 or 1822 when the companie got in financial trouble.

"Friedrich Wilhelm II" was sold like the first two boats in Potsdam on 12.3.1825 and probably scrapped.

My source is: "Das Mittelrad-Dampfschiff Prinzessin Charlotte von Preussen 1816" by Werner Jaeger, c.1977 Stalling Verlag
ISBN 3-7979-1883-6.

regards

Tom

[Alan]

Thank you, Tom, for your tremendous reply.  This is just what I wanted to know.

With best wishes,

Alan