March 09, 2006
Gratuitous Cival War Naval History Geek Posting
On this day in 1862, in the first battle between ironclad ships, the U.S.S. Monitor faced off against the C.S.S Virginia (nee U.S.S. Merrimac) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, changing the face of naval warfare forever. Here is a nifty site containing official accounts of the battle and lots of technical details about the two ships.
Tactically, the battle - which lasted three hours or more - was something of a draw, with neither ship able to inflict decisive damage on the other. Strategically, the battle was a win for the Union. The Virginia had first appeared the day before and had quickly sunk several wooden Union ships. The arrival of the Monitor stopped her from wiping out the rest of the Union squadron.
After the battle, the Virginia retired upstream. She was later blown up when the Confederates abandoned Norfolk in May, 1862. The Monitor sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras that December. She was rediscovered in the 70's. Here is the Mariner's Museum page about the ship and her salvage.
Posted by Robert at March 9, 2006 10:40 AM | TrackBackAs a kid I was a huge fan of the history of these two ships and their battle.
The important thing about it was that it signalled the birth of the gun turret and the beginning of the end for ported weapons. The Virginia was more heavily armored, but could only fire when the Monitor was broadside of her. The Monitor, on the other hand, could manouver and fire at will from almost any position and angle.
Posted by: Brian B at March 9, 2006 12:45 PM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 