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SpitfireKing
Airman 1st Class
Can't forget that before those there was The Turtle.
Iron Clads
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According to The Monitor versus The Merrimac: Ironclads at war, there are several things that havent been mentioned here yet
1. the Monitor only was equiped with 1 cannon at the battle of Hampton Roads
2. the monitor had a weak spot; the small 'box' on the deak used to look out ( to see where they are going) was hit, blinding everyone in it
3. when the Virgina ramed (and got stuck in ) the USS Cumberland, the Cumberland fired 3 broadsides into the Virgina, destroying 2 of the Virgina's guns and putting the smokestack in a '>' shape.
my 2 cents. hope that helped someone
1. the Monitor only was equiped with 1 cannon at the battle of Hampton Roads
2. the monitor had a weak spot; the small 'box' on the deak used to look out ( to see where they are going) was hit, blinding everyone in it
3. when the Virgina ramed (and got stuck in ) the USS Cumberland, the Cumberland fired 3 broadsides into the Virgina, destroying 2 of the Virgina's guns and putting the smokestack in a '>' shape.
my 2 cents. hope that helped someone
Messy1
Master Sergeant
I read a few books several years ago when I was still in school on the Monitor and Merrimac. This is from memory, but I believe if the Monitor had been able or cleared to use the full charge her cannons could handle, The CSS Virginia would have fared much worse, and possibly even been able to break the stalemate between the two ships.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
I believe you're right. I remember the builder/designer being mad that they were not firing full loads from her.
Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Messy1
Master Sergeant
I am not that old Chris, although some days I feel like it! 
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
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It had to be like a bell sitting inside the turret while it get's hit time and time again.
Messy1
Master Sergeant
That thought went through my head VB! I cannot imagine what that sounded like.
Night Fighter Nut
Master Sergeant
From what I remember in my readings, there were doors covering the cannon portal that would close after firing. These were jammed in the battle so the monitor had to spin the turret around to reload and spin it back to fire.
Night Fighter Nut
Master Sergeant
I believe the turtle was a precursor to the submarine.
Messy1
Master Sergeant
Just caugth a National Geographic Special yesterday about the raising of the USS Monitor's turret, and the reamins of 3 crewmen were found inside the turret. they were laid to rest with full military honors.
Give a shout out the first ships that used irom armor.
The Korean Turtle Ships:
Turtle ship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not an Iron Clad as we know it but it was clad in iron!
.
The Korean Turtle Ships:
Turtle ship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not an Iron Clad as we know it but it was clad in iron!
.
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vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Very cool!
A big advantage, as you can imagine, is that the tops of the vessels were fire resistant cause of the iron. At the time, combatants tried to set each others ships on fire via flaming clay pots filled with combustibles, fire arrows, and flaming ballistas.
The spikes discouraged boarding by "marines". The Turtle ships were pretty darn cool.
Dont't get me wrong.. I'm all about the party at Hampton Roads...
Go see the USS Cairo!
The spikes discouraged boarding by "marines". The Turtle ships were pretty darn cool.
Dont't get me wrong.. I'm all about the party at Hampton Roads...
Go see the USS Cairo!
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Messy1
Master Sergeant
Found this nice article online.
USS Monitor (1862) - Specifications and Pictures - Navy Ships
USS Monitor (1862) - Specifications and Pictures - Navy Ships
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
I find the ironclad age fascinating for the incredible variety of types it generated. Between HMS Warrior and the Royal Sovereign class of 1892, the Royal Navy (and many others) built ships in twos or threes with sails, no sail, barbette guns, central battery guns, turreted guns, vanishing guns, low freeboard, high freeboard... almost any mix of characteristics you can think of. The Royal Sovereigns finally established the classic 'pre-dreadnought' layout which lasted until HMS Dreadnought appeared in 1906, and started the trend for the RN to build series of ships to identical designs, each type being a gradual improvement on the last (with the exception of the 2nd class colonial battleships and the 'semi-dreadnought' Lord Nelson' class).
I also find it fascinating that the US were the first to use ironclads in combat, then dropped out of naval construction almost completely for three decades. Neither of the designs that fought at Hampton Roads were widely replicated, the 'monitor' concept only re-appearing in the First World War as a vessel for shore bombardment rater than surface-to-surface combat.
For a short and very readable overview of developments between the launch of the first sea-going armoured warship Gloire in 1859 and the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, which marked the end of the battleship era, I would recommend Battleship by Peter Padfield. Prices from $18 for the new edition on Amazon.com to £2.85 for the old one (which I have) on Amazon.co.uk. Worth every penny IMHO 8)
I also find it fascinating that the US were the first to use ironclads in combat, then dropped out of naval construction almost completely for three decades. Neither of the designs that fought at Hampton Roads were widely replicated, the 'monitor' concept only re-appearing in the First World War as a vessel for shore bombardment rater than surface-to-surface combat.
For a short and very readable overview of developments between the launch of the first sea-going armoured warship Gloire in 1859 and the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, which marked the end of the battleship era, I would recommend Battleship by Peter Padfield. Prices from $18 for the new edition on Amazon.com to £2.85 for the old one (which I have) on Amazon.co.uk. Worth every penny IMHO 8)
Messy1
Master Sergeant
Yes, once the Dreadnought appeared, every other ship made before was instantly obsolete. Everything made up to that point was suddenly almost useless. I love the Ironclads myself. I love all the different variants made, especially in the Monitor style. Also love the armored sidewheeler frigates.
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
I think the Royal Sovereigns also made the ironclads obsolete to an extent. Certainly, all other navies copied the design afterwards, following the pattern of two larges guns in a turret at each of end of the ship, and a central battery of smaller guns in a central superstructure. The US did try a few variations, noticeably putting smaller guns in turrets built on top of the main ones, but this was not very successful and was soon abandoned. Look for pictures of USS Virginia (BB-13) if you're interested in how bizarre this looked
