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On 12 October 1861, the CSS Manassas became the first ironclad to enter battle, when she fought Union warships on the Mississippi. She was converted from a commercial vessel in New Orleans for river and coastal fighting. In February 1862, the larger CSS Virginia joined the Confederate Navy, having been built at Norfolk. By this time the Union had completed seven ironclad gunboats of the City class, and was about to complete the USS Monitor, an innovative design proposed by the Swedish inventor John Ericsson. The Union was also building a large armored frigate, the USS New Ironsides, and the smaller USS Galena. The first battle between ironclads happened on 9 March 1862, as the armored raft Monitor was deployed to protect the Union's wooden fleet from the ironclad battery Virginia and other Confederate warships. In this engagement, named the Battle of Hampton Roads, the two ironclads repeatedly tried to ram one another while shells bounced off their armor. The battle attracted attention worldwide, making it clear that the wooden warship was now out of date with the ironclads destroying them easily.

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15y ago
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13y ago

There were several ships used throughout the war. The two you are referring to are probably the USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia (formerly known as the USS Merrimack) at the Battle of Hampton Roads. This was the first battle between two ironclad ships. The two ship fought to a stalemate.

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12y ago

The ships were called ironclads, which are ships used in a war that have iron plates to protect them. This was the first war that the US used ironclads in.

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13y ago

monitor and merrimack(css Virginia)

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Q: What were the two ironclads in the US Civil War?
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Where was the location of the Battle of the Ironclads?

The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac during the US Civil War. It was the first time two ironclad ships had fought each other.


Who designed the first ironclads the Union built in the US Civil War?

Samuel M. Pook designed the first Union ironclads. On October 12, 1861, the USS St. Louis was launched.


Who built monitor type ironclads for the North after the USS Monitor?

Based on the blueprints of the USS Monitor, ship building pioneer, Donald McKay built monitor type ironclads for the Union's navy during the US Civil War.


Why was the ironclads an important weapons?

The ironclades of the US Civil War, proved to be warships that could easily destroy wooden cargo ships and wooden warships. Their importance was clear. They were able to dominate the high technolgy of the US Civil War with regards to sea battles.


When were the ironclad warships used during the civil war?

At the US Civil War Battle of Hampton Roads, the first ever battle in war history between two ironclads took place. In 1862 the USS Monitor battled the CSS Virginia to a tie. Ironically both ships never saw duty again.


What did the US Civil War term of Pook Turtles mean?

The US Civil War term of "Pook Turtles", described what the ironclads designed by Union inventor Samuel L. Pook.This was a small fleet of ironclad river warships designed by Pook. Seven of these were produced.


How did the battle of the ironclads during the US Civil War change warfare forever?

Ironclad warships were not new to the naval world, what the US Civil War presented was the first time two ironclads fought each other. That was at the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. Perhaps what changed sea warfare the most was the invention of the turret cannon that was new on the USS Monitor.


What effects on the US Civil War did the ironclads warships have?

Ironclad warships that were used against each side were significant in the world of naval warfare. It made wooden warships and cargo ships easy targets for ironclad ships of war.


How was the Naval warfare of the Civil War?

Although there were some US Civil War battles fought on the high seas, the CSC Alabama and the USS Kearsarge as one example; naval blockades and riverine warfare (Brown Water Navy) were the primary naval battles fought during the civil war.


What is a conflicts example of the undeclared war?

US Civil War & Vietnam War are two examples.


What were the two opposing sides during the US Civil Wars?

the two sides during the US civil war were the union (North) and the confederacy (south)


How did inventor John Ericsson help build the first two US Civil War ironclads?

The first two ironclad warships in the US Civil War were constructed based on the creativity of one man John Ericsson. Yes, he actually designed the USS Monitor, however, the CSS Virginia ironclad and the Monitor were able to sail based on Ericsson's perfection of the screw propeller. This allowed for mounting steam engines below the waterline and eliminated the paddle wheel driven ships.