How Ironclads Changed Naval Warfare

How Ironclads Changed Naval Warfare On March 9, 1862, a extremist meshing took place in Hampton Roads, a natural declare surround Norfolk, Virginia. This would be the startle fight of its kind, involving weapons that had non seen skirmish before. This was, of course, a battle of ironclad war commits, the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack. These enchants were non the first of their kind. The French Navy had completed an ironclad, La Gloire, in 1859, and The British Royal Navy had completed their own ship, Warrior, in 1860.[i] By the time the Merrimack and the Monitor engaged each new(prenominal) in Virginia, many other European countries either had produced or were build ironclad ships. However, the first battle between devil ironclads would be what changed naval warfare forever. The term ironclad arsehole be somewhat misleading to some. These ships were not entirely constructed break of iron, exclusively instead were built with wooden hulls and decks with the outside of the ship world encased in thick iron plates. This would be decent for protecting the ship from traditional cannon sacking crap-shooter and shells. Wooden frigates would slowly become obsolete at a time ironclads began to be produced.

In addition to iron armor, the development of explosive shells, go power, and the screw propeller all contributed to the production of the ironclad. With the habituate of steam, fixture and maneuverability increased. The screw propeller allowed much of the ships machinery and propulsion system to be positioned below the waterline, dour the chances of misuse and providing to a greater extent(prenominal) room for men in their quarters and on the gu n deck. It replaced many side-paddle wheels ! that were exposed to artillery fire and provided more room for mounted guns on the side of a ship. detonative shells had been seen since the Napoleonic Wars, but were not widely used in naval warfare until the 1820s. Many cannonballs fired from traditional cannons would cringe off even wooden ships in some cases. It was for this primer coat that more...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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