The singificance of the Ironclad during the Civil War and for the advancement of naval battle
The use of Ironclad Warships during the Civil War led to the eventual disusage of wooden warships, that allowed the Confederacy to receive the upperhand during the early phase of the Civil War, and on a grander scale served as the foundation for modern era ships. The overall significance is especially noteworthy as a shift occurred from wooden ships to iron-reinforced ships that were much more resistant to cannon fire. Although ironclads and similar models had been previously invented several centuries before the Civil War, the Civil War was the first time that these ships were used in battle, thus marking a historical moment in naval warfare history.
What is an Ironclad?
An ironclad is a special warship first used in battle during the Civil War covered with iron armor. This new model introduced new types of warfare and served as the foundation for modern warfare, using steam-propelled engines to run.
Civil War Ironclad history
The beginning of the Civil War saw only the use of wooden ships. The Confederacy was behind in terms of naval power because most of the US navy had remained loyal to the Union. Due to this, the Confederates were looking for an alternative method to gain the advantage in maritime warfare. The use of ironclads began with the Confederacy reinforcing the ship known as USS Merrimack with iron. This new brand of ship was clearly dominant over the less superior wooden ships of the Union. The Union recognized the power of these ships, and in response to these efforts, the Union began building ironclads of their own. The first battle that saw the use of an ironclad was the Battle of the Head of Passes where the CSS Manassas was used. Eventually the USS Merrimack became the CSS Virginia, and with this huge naval advantage, was able to dominate and emerge victorious. After this occasion, the USS Monitor was created by the Union with the help of the Swedish inventor John Ericsson. The CSS Virginia and USS Monitor would go head to head as the first battle between Ironclads in the Battle of Hampton Roads.
What is an Ironclad?
An ironclad is a special warship first used in battle during the Civil War covered with iron armor. This new model introduced new types of warfare and served as the foundation for modern warfare, using steam-propelled engines to run.
Civil War Ironclad history
The beginning of the Civil War saw only the use of wooden ships. The Confederacy was behind in terms of naval power because most of the US navy had remained loyal to the Union. Due to this, the Confederates were looking for an alternative method to gain the advantage in maritime warfare. The use of ironclads began with the Confederacy reinforcing the ship known as USS Merrimack with iron. This new brand of ship was clearly dominant over the less superior wooden ships of the Union. The Union recognized the power of these ships, and in response to these efforts, the Union began building ironclads of their own. The first battle that saw the use of an ironclad was the Battle of the Head of Passes where the CSS Manassas was used. Eventually the USS Merrimack became the CSS Virginia, and with this huge naval advantage, was able to dominate and emerge victorious. After this occasion, the USS Monitor was created by the Union with the help of the Swedish inventor John Ericsson. The CSS Virginia and USS Monitor would go head to head as the first battle between Ironclads in the Battle of Hampton Roads.
"Worden lost no time in bringing it to test. Getting his ship under way, he steered direct for the enemy's vessels, in order to meet and engage them as far as possible from the Minnesota. As he approached, the wooden vessels quickly turned and left: Our captain...made straight for the Merrimac, which had already commenced firing; and when he came within short range, he changed his course so as to come alongside of her, stopped the engine, and gave the order, 'Commence firing!' I triced (raised) up the port, ran out the gun, and, taking deliberate aim, pulled the lockstring. The Merrimac was quick to reply, returning a rattling broadside (for she had ten guns to our two), and the battle fairly began. The turrets and other parts of the ship were heavily struck, but the shots did not penetrate; the tower was intact, and it continued to revolve. A look of confidence passed over the men's faces, and we believed the Merrimac would not repeat the work she had accomplished the day before."
-Lieutenant S. Dana Greene
This battle was clearly significant in the grander scale by demonstrating that wooden ships were now outdated and in effect, founded the expansion of the ironclad navy. Many new ironclads were built after this on both sides, thus becoming the new standard for naval battles.
"Civil War Ironclads." YouTube. YouTube, 19 Oct. 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
Types of Ironclads
Casemate Ironclads
There were several types of specific ironclads that were used for different purposes. The first type of ironclad used during the Civil War was the casemate ironclad. Unlike other types of ironclads, this featured model did not have cannons in an armored gun deck, but rather had the main deck feature the guns. This model was less prevalent and is often seen as a step towards the modernization of ship designs.
Casemate Ironclads
There were several types of specific ironclads that were used for different purposes. The first type of ironclad used during the Civil War was the casemate ironclad. Unlike other types of ironclads, this featured model did not have cannons in an armored gun deck, but rather had the main deck feature the guns. This model was less prevalent and is often seen as a step towards the modernization of ship designs.
Monitor Ironclads
This type of ironclad was the more popular model, and it featured large guns in a well-armored, small warship. This model was so well-designed that monitor ironclads were used all the way up to the Vietnam War. As mentioned before, this type of ship was originally designed by John Ericsson. There were also multiple types of monitor ironclads, the most prevalent being the river monitor, which were heavily reinforced warships that contained the largest guns of all river battles.
This type of ironclad was the more popular model, and it featured large guns in a well-armored, small warship. This model was so well-designed that monitor ironclads were used all the way up to the Vietnam War. As mentioned before, this type of ship was originally designed by John Ericsson. There were also multiple types of monitor ironclads, the most prevalent being the river monitor, which were heavily reinforced warships that contained the largest guns of all river battles.
Armaments
Munitions
Prior to the advent of ironclads into large scale naval warfare, naval armaments were all designed to destroy ships made of wood. Capitalizing on the flammability of wood, munitions such as hotshot, where a shell was heated until red-hot before fired, would set wooden ships alight with ease. Likewise, explosive shells were a major threat to wooden ships as the bursting action, would often fill the ship with deadly shrapnel, especially wooden splinters (often at the length of a foot or more), however these munitions were generally not of much use against ironclads. Later on it was discovered that solid shot, if propelled by a sufficient amount of powder charge was usually able to penetrate ironclad armor.
Cannon
The rifled cannon, being a relatively new development in naval armament at the time of the Civil War, was often over looked by artillerists for the tried and true smoothbore cannon. These smoothbore, while lacking in range, accuracy, and penetrating power, compared to the rifled cannon, were still seen as superior at ordinary ranges of battle. They were easier to load, and thus had a faster rate of fire, and their lack of penetrating power was not a problem when faced with the weaker hulls of wooden warships. Rifles, however frequently found their way onto ironclad gundecks, and would eventually replace the smoothbore completely in naval artillery.
Cannon Mounting
Previously, the most popular arrangement of cannons was in the fixed broadside, where the cannons were lined up on either side of the ship through rows of gun ports. The monitor, however, was able to introduce a more effective way of mounting guns with the monitor turret. This rotating gun platform allowed the guns to fire at nearly any angle, regardless of the ship's bearing. Ideally, this turret would give the ship a complete 360 degree field of fire, however this was obstructed by a forward situated pilot house, meaning that the monitor could not fire directly forward. This ideal field of fire was in fact, never attained in any complete vessel.
Ram
With the development of the ironclads, many naval designers believed that the ram was the most important naval armament once again, with steam power freeing vessels from the wind, and armor to protect the vessel from cannon fire, and in fact many ironclads of the civil war were armed with naval rams including the CSS Virginia (Merrimack). The ram eventually fell out of favor due to the torpedo, by which the same effect could be achieved.
Munitions
Prior to the advent of ironclads into large scale naval warfare, naval armaments were all designed to destroy ships made of wood. Capitalizing on the flammability of wood, munitions such as hotshot, where a shell was heated until red-hot before fired, would set wooden ships alight with ease. Likewise, explosive shells were a major threat to wooden ships as the bursting action, would often fill the ship with deadly shrapnel, especially wooden splinters (often at the length of a foot or more), however these munitions were generally not of much use against ironclads. Later on it was discovered that solid shot, if propelled by a sufficient amount of powder charge was usually able to penetrate ironclad armor.
Cannon
The rifled cannon, being a relatively new development in naval armament at the time of the Civil War, was often over looked by artillerists for the tried and true smoothbore cannon. These smoothbore, while lacking in range, accuracy, and penetrating power, compared to the rifled cannon, were still seen as superior at ordinary ranges of battle. They were easier to load, and thus had a faster rate of fire, and their lack of penetrating power was not a problem when faced with the weaker hulls of wooden warships. Rifles, however frequently found their way onto ironclad gundecks, and would eventually replace the smoothbore completely in naval artillery.
Cannon Mounting
Previously, the most popular arrangement of cannons was in the fixed broadside, where the cannons were lined up on either side of the ship through rows of gun ports. The monitor, however, was able to introduce a more effective way of mounting guns with the monitor turret. This rotating gun platform allowed the guns to fire at nearly any angle, regardless of the ship's bearing. Ideally, this turret would give the ship a complete 360 degree field of fire, however this was obstructed by a forward situated pilot house, meaning that the monitor could not fire directly forward. This ideal field of fire was in fact, never attained in any complete vessel.
Ram
With the development of the ironclads, many naval designers believed that the ram was the most important naval armament once again, with steam power freeing vessels from the wind, and armor to protect the vessel from cannon fire, and in fact many ironclads of the civil war were armed with naval rams including the CSS Virginia (Merrimack). The ram eventually fell out of favor due to the torpedo, by which the same effect could be achieved.
Works cited
1. Weaver, Mark. "Ironclad Warships." American Civil War Stories. AmericanCivilWarStory, 2011-2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
2. "Battle of the Ironclads." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
3. "The Battle of the Ironclads, 1862." The Battle of the Ironclads, 1862. Eye Witness to History, 2005. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
4. "Civil War Ironclads." Civil War Ironclads. N.p., 1996. Web. 05 Dec. 20135. Jenkins, Mark F. "The Technology of the Ironclads." Ironclad Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
5. Jenkins, Mark F. "The Technology of the Ironclads." Ironclad Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.6. "USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862)." USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862). N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
6. "USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862)." USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862). N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
1. Weaver, Mark. "Ironclad Warships." American Civil War Stories. AmericanCivilWarStory, 2011-2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
2. "Battle of the Ironclads." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
3. "The Battle of the Ironclads, 1862." The Battle of the Ironclads, 1862. Eye Witness to History, 2005. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
4. "Civil War Ironclads." Civil War Ironclads. N.p., 1996. Web. 05 Dec. 20135. Jenkins, Mark F. "The Technology of the Ironclads." Ironclad Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
5. Jenkins, Mark F. "The Technology of the Ironclads." Ironclad Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.6. "USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862)." USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862). N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.
6. "USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862)." USN Ships-USS Monitor (1862-1862). N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013.