ironclads
Ironclads first made their debut in the Civil War, after architects began to plate new boats with steel. Plating war ships with steel and iron made the boats much more resistant to enemy attack. Since these boats were incredibly heavy, newly developed steam engines powered boats instead of sails.
Union and Confederate ironclads first met in battle at the Battle of Hampton Roads, which was the world's first fight between ironclad ships. With this battle, naval warfare made history and was changed forever. Ironclads were much more efficient for defeating enemies than normal wooden ships at the time. In the South where there was little industry and where metals were scarce, the Confederates developed torpedoes to destroy Union ironclads. The Civil War marked a new era in naval warfare, and the technology of the Civil War set standards around the world. Other Civil War inventions like submarines are still components of naval warfare today. |