The Water Witch was a steam-powered sidewheel gunboat that served in the United States Navy. It was commissioned in 1851 and primarily operated in Central America and the Caribbean. The main idea for the construction of the Water Witch was to support the United States' interests in those regions. The gunboat's shallow draft allowed it to navigate rivers and coastal areas, making it ideal for surveying rivers and coastlines. It was also equipped with weapons, such as cannons and howitzers, to protect itself and its crew. The Water Witch was involved in various operations during its service.
Thunder’s owner was busy Thursday arranging for a police escort for her horse to get him into the Big Apple for TV appearances the next morning.
Created by NFL 33, in partnership with the Seahawks production team, Behind the Noise will premiere on August 20th, the first home game Blue Friday of the preseason, at 12 12 p. Thunder has had all kinds of special instruction to deal with cheerleader pom-poms, big noises, large crowds he can even ride elevators, said Magness Blake.
The Water Witch was involved in various operations during its service. One notable event was its participation in the United States' expedition to Paraguay in 1858-1859. The goal of this expedition was to negotiate a trade agreement with Paraguay and protect American interests in the region.
Denver Broncos’ and Seattle Seahawks’ mascots head to town for Super Bowl
Joe Tabacca for New York Daily News Denver Broncos mascot Thunder is led through Times Square in Manhattan by handler Ann Judge-Wegener, left and Sharon Magness Blake right Friday January 31, 2014.
Ken Murray/New York Daily News Sharon Magness Blake with her horse, Broncos mascot Thunder, which was transported into Newark Airport by FedEx plane.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Thunder trots around the field each time the Denver Broncos score a goal — which fans hope will happen many times during Sunday's Super Bowl.
Ted S. Warren/AP Taima, the mascot of the Seattle Seahawks, stands on the arm of her handler during a November game in Seattle.
Show Caption PUBLISHED: January 30, 2014 at 1:17 p.m. | UPDATED: January 10, 2019 at 12:34 a.m.Super Bowl fans are going to be thunderstruck by the team mascots on Feb. 2.
Thunder the horse and Taima the hawk — whose name means ‘Thunder’ — are both flying into town ahead of Sunday’s big game.
Fleet-footed Thunder, the white Arabian gelding who sprints across Mile High Stadium every time his team scores, is expected to touch down Thursday at Newark International Airport.
The 10-year-old departed from Denver early in the morning dressed in a dark blue, padded Broncos rug.
Sharon Magness Blake with her horse, Broncos mascot Thunder, which was transported into Newark Airport by FedEx plane.
“My bags are packed and I’m ready to go,” said a post on Thunder’s Facebook page.
The Bronco mascot is traveling first-class in a cargo plane, accompanied by his rider, Annie Wegener, and a special groom.
“For the Super Bowl, he’s going to lead the team onto the field and every time the Broncos score he’ll run across the end zone,” said his owner, Sharon Magness Blake.
Annie Wegener rides Thunder during a home game at Mile High Stadium.“We hope he does it many times!” said the Broncos fan.
Meanwhile, Seahawk mascot Taima is going to swoop into town to lead his team into MetLife Stadium Sunday evening.
The 9-year-old augur hawk sports a distinctive black head with a unique cream-colored throat with a dark stripe.
Taima, the mascot of the Seattle Seahawks, stands on the arm of her handler during a November game in Seattle.
The bird of prey — with its impressive 4 1/2-foot wingspan — is a familiar sight to Seahawk fans.
No game gets started until he unfolds his feathers and darts across the field — carefully watched by his trainer David Knutson.
Taima has to keep his nerve as he navigates 12-foot spires of flame, screaming cheerleaders, booming fireworks and thousands of crazed fans to his trainer’s gloved hand.
Thunder trots around the field each time the Denver Broncos score a goal — which fans hope will happen many times during Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Both mascots were handpicked for their ability to deal with loud noises and the super spectacle that is NFL football.
Thunder the horse had to take classes to teach him to run over the white yard lines on the football field.
“Thunder has had all kinds of special instruction to deal with cheerleader pom-poms, big noises, large crowds — he can even ride elevators,” said Magness Blake.
‘My bags are packed and I’m ready to go — Super Bowl Bound!!’ Thunder captioned this picture on Facebook.
Taima, who began flying for the Seahawks in 2007, was named by the team’s fans.
His flights are often accompanied by the Seahawks’ drum line, known as the Blue Thunder.
Both mascots are fan favorites – and they’re already generating huge interest ahead of the game.
Thunder’s owner was busy Thursday arranging for a police escort for her horse to get him into the Big Apple for TV appearances the next morning.
“We need some help getting his trailer around those tight corners,” laughed Magness Blake, who said Thunder will be on several network talk shows.
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The Water Witch played a crucial role in surveying the Paraguay River and ensuring safe navigation for other American vessels. While the Water Witch had successful missions, it also faced challenges during its service. The gunboat frequently encountered hostile encounters with pirates, privateers, and indigenous communities. It had to engage in combat to defend itself and protect American interests. However, these encounters also brought criticism to the Water Witch, as some claimed that it became too involved in local conflicts and interfered with the internal affairs of other countries. The Water Witch's final mission took place in 1861, during the early stages of the American Civil War. It was tasked with delivering dispatches to the Union forces stationed in Pensacola, Florida. However, during its journey, the Water Witch was captured by Confederate forces and subsequently burned to prevent its recapture by the Union Navy. Overall, the Water Witch served as an important vessel in the United States Navy. Its primary purpose was to support American interests in Central America and the Caribbean, mainly by surveying rivers and coastlines. While it successfully completed its missions, it also faced challenges from various hostile encounters. Although its service came to an unfortunate end, the Water Witch remains a notable part of naval history..
Reviews for "The Water Witch: Charting New Waters in Naval Exploration"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I found "Water Witch US Navy" to be quite disappointing. The plot was slow and lacked any real excitement, and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. The writing style was also a bit dry and lacked the depth and emotion that I look for in a good novel. Overall, I was very underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I really wanted to like "Water Witch US Navy", but unfortunately, it just didn't capture my attention. The story felt disjointed and hard to follow, and I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long, drawn-out descriptions that didn't add much to the overall plot. Overall, I felt let down by this book and wouldn't consider reading another from the author.
3. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Water Witch US Navy" was a complete waste of time for me. The narrative was confusing, with random jumps in time and place that left me feeling lost. The characters were poorly developed, and I couldn't bring myself to care about their fates. The lack of clear direction and purpose made it hard for me to keep reading, and I ultimately gave up halfway through. I would not recommend this book to anyone who wants a well-crafted and engaging story.