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Union Monitor 1861-65 CONTENTS ANGUS KONSTAM II an experienced Olpre~ author with over 20 titlel In print. He has lon...

Author: Angus Konstam

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Union Monitor 1861-65

CONTENTS

ANGUS KONSTAM II an experienced Olpre~ author with over 20 titlel In print. He has long been associated with the lea, having leNed In the Ro~al Navy, practiled underwater archaeology and curated a maritime museum. Hil understanding of the subject II based on ~earl of study of milrltime history, i1nd Intlmilte knowledge of the leading maritime museums on both Iides of the Atlantic.

INTRODUCTION

3

MONITOR DESIGN

4

• Gideon Wclk... ;md the Navy DCparlttlCl1l • The first ironclad COlllr~IClS • The JUonitor and "monilor fever" • CaSt:lll
MONITOR CONSTRUCTION METHODS

21

MONITORS IN OPERATION

24

• • • •

Th(' rotc of tlit: monitors Cn:'\\'illg the lllonilOJ's Ordnance and gunnery i\lullitors ill anion

CATALOG OF OCEAN-GOING UNION MONITORS 40

TONY BRYAN II a freelance Illustrator of miln~ ~ears expefience after Inillall~ qualifying In Engineering i1nd workll19 for a number 01 yea ... In Military Researeh and Development. Ton~ has a keen Interest in military hardware _ armor, smilll i1rms, alreraft and ships - and has produ<:ed many illustrations for partworks, maga:llnes and books, including a number of titles In the New Vanguard series.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

43

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY

44

INDEX

48

OSPREY

New Vanguard· 45

PUBLISHING

Union Monitor 1861-65

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UNION MONITOR 1861-65

INTRODUCTION The.' populari" of the Chil War as a period ofhi,[ori('" intl'le~1 j .. rcncClcd in ,h(' IhOlI'\.,md'l of IXIOks on the 'IUbicCI. bUI of ,11(',1.:, \'(',"\ re.... cO\'cr am .I.~pc.·<:t of the 11:1\,.1 war. [\t'n more nOlicc;lhh. tht, ships of Ihe Union :\an ha\(' OCCIl dealt I\;lh in a CUI'O" ['L"hinn, as ,he [0(11'\ of na\'al hi'llorirt'd thai lhi~ bool.. will go 1>OIIIe \\.1\ low"rd~ lllal..ing infunn,lIiOIl Oil tlH''tC \'c'iSCl.. more accc"Sible.

no. USS Monitor •• d~k:ted In • Northern neWS9"per In 1ae2. Her dlmlnutm.nd unu.u.l

appearance led the Confederate. to underestimate her potefltlal •• a war$hlp_ (HeAj

E\en more so than her a(l\('r...' t .... lhl' .\Innmar (r('mullcd the C S l'i'gJII;ll). lhe L'SS .\lol/;/or r(:"pre~lltl,<1 .I rc\ohuioll in w;lI~hip dC'Iign. :\01 onh wa~ the \e~1 fulh armored, hilI ~h(' moullted Ilt:r gun.. in a rc\ul\'ing IlIrret, which in tht:'on was capable 01 firing ill am directioll. FoIIOl\'ing the fir"t fight between two ironclad.. . al Ihe ItuIIl' of Hampton R(Md~ (~Iarch 9, 1862) Ihe ~ol"lh W;L~ ~\\'epI b\ ~mollilor f('H'r,M as I'\l'nollt.' from Prc.. . idclll Lincoln down lx'c.lllu: comillCl'd thai \'ielOn in thl,' 11.1\,11 w;u would be .\Chie\ed thruugh Ihl,' ere.llion of a Ileel of MIlIOllilor~ ironcl'ld~. Tht:' original US-I.:; t\lomforlhcrefon' ~p;l\\llerl a hO~1 ul ~ueeessor. . , and Win' Ilt.'r mllne 10 a n('\\ l\'pt: of \\';Irship.

--

3

MONITOR DESIGN Gideon Welles and the Navy Department

This eng...,,;"lI w.s b.MKt on the phol09t.ph t.ken 01 the

USS AtonllOl' ,net her b.m, with the CSS VifTI1nl., bul depicts he, without the subsequent modiflc.tions to her smok••tacks, tUrnlt or pilothouse. (HeAl

On i\larch 4.1861. GideOl1 Welles became Prc..,idclll l.inc()lll·~ Sccrclaq' of lhe N,ny. t\ month latcr the (ountr\, \\"a~ irrc\ocabh plunged into war. Whell Lincoln approved the ~AllaCUlldd 1'1.1II.~ dcdsed b\ Geller'al Win/kId ScOtl. he committed his n had a limited lllowlcdge of lI,wal lIlall(." .... hlll he was abk to fill the Kan' Depanmelll Wilh hil{hh COlllpt.'u'nl "Ilbonlina\('~. In AUb'1.I"\ 1861 he made Gustanl" \'. fox hi, As.. i..talll Secrel;!n, chllrging him wilh rUlllling the daih affairs of the dCl>ar Irneltl, Ili~ ~mall department was gr:ulualh expanded 10 ellCOll1pa" the growinl{ rlt'('{I~ of the <;('rlice. Oril{inalh it \\'1.S di\ided illlo fin' I\lIre,I\I'. ow·l....t.·(·ing con"truclioll, pru\'i!>iolling. medicine. dock\iXlh Bureau of Steam Engineering W;L~ added latl'r. For guidance on 'ill"illegic mailers, Welle.. formed a bock referred 10 a'i lilt' U[ockade Str:llegic Board. whik

~nlllp add"cd him on "cienlific i~sm's. An adminiqr.uiw· headed b\' a Chief Clerk covered more 1ll1111d,IIW 11];\11('1" ;lI1d O\cr~aw the llil\'\ \ finances. Both the Senate ami II0ll'C 01 RCPf('~('lHalhc\ maintaincd ,tanding Na\'ll Affairs C.olllllliltl-·C'. \IIJI) ucca...ionalh mct 10 illll-·,tigau.: 11;1\,11 mailer... when required, and h,ld the pO\\'cr 10 curb dt'pannU'lH "pcnding. Welles appoinled bu"inessrnan Cot:orge D. ~Iorgan 10 help the na\') purcha...e alld COrl\er! cidli;Ul ,hips. \Ihilc another oflicc ill NC\I' Yorl.. ~lll)('n'iX'd dealinb~ IX-I\\l·t'll lhe depanlllclll and civilian cOlltl";lc1Or.... 111i" OmCl', hcad(:d 1)\ i\drn;ml Fmnci" Gregor.. ille\'ilabh bccanw dublx..t t -TI1C ~Ionilor IX>..lrd.~ Tile bu,lrd oper.ltl'<.l indept:lldenlh Ofillc dep.1.nmcIU's 011'11 llure;1U of C.Qll..,Il'lIClioll, he;lded b\ John Lcnthall. a division of rcspon~ibilili('s Ih.n would C;Ill'W problems in Ihe flilUrc. All e\cn more inflllellli.11 advi...on commillec \\'a.'> formed ill AlIgll...I 1861 aflcr the L'nioll aUlhorilie.. heard ofConfeder.ue plans 10 con\'(:n Ihe lortncr ,ICilm fri/ofouc M1'nl1l/(l(' into ,In ironclad. Thi~ lime Welle" formed a thret:·m,lll ~Irollcl.ld IkJ.lrd. who...e membcl". were to add.'>f.: him on Ill(' ckH'lopmclll of ironclad... although nOll(' of IlwlIl \\,l~ csperl in IM"II cOII~lnl('lion 01' ordnance. For all Iheir lacl.. of cxperiellct.'. il \\.b lhi.., board \1 hich would recommend Ihe con~lruClioll of both lhc ,\lQmtorilnd lilt'" ,\''11' Irmlfldl'5. The n;l',,1 \"rd~ were not l'CI"ipp{'d 10 build ironclad \\.Ir...hip'" 'i.O it \\'aS illC\;table Ihat almo...1 .111 ironclads \\ould be buill undt:'r comr.lCI Il\ privalc ...hip\'ards. G{)\{'J'lHlll'nl polio also dictated that conU'aCb \Iea' awarded 10 Ihl' 100n:...1 tellder. A handful of pri\
anollu:r ~eClion

w

Th40 monitOf" USS Chicbsa....nd tn. lonner l..-I;td USS Gale_ depicted during lhe 8attle of Mobile Bay (August 18&4). This MU....uk_ c:.... w.rshlp comm.nded by LleutenanfComm.nder G~'lIe H. Pendn. w•• one 01 four monttors to plIrtlclpale In lhe battle. tHCA)

5

The high co~I 01 cOIl\(:rting the llecess,'ul lnachinery and the:: rigorOll.'> gmenllnelll regulalions surrolillding contracts meant tllal onh .1 h.mdful of cOlllpanie~ we::rt· willing to \\'ork on the comtrucliorl of 1ll0niIOrCrit."Ii 01 ell'CrCt" 11\ Ihe:: go\t'!'mnl'III, Ihe l'nioll munilH1 f1ecl came about .1.'> .1 1"("lIh of COlllllllltl'C' .md clllrl'l)rcl\l·uri.(1 inili.lli\l'. The"t.' na,,,1 and (i\ilt.1Il .I(hi"-·I Ihl...c.' public ~'I'\.IIlIS "nd Ihe'\C dcsignc1"". englllt'l"'" .lIld ill\C·'ll" \\II\lld cUlIlbillt' 10 (h.lll).;(· IIll' course of hi,lon,

•

The first Ironclad contracts I'riol" 10 Ill(' Ci\il \\'<11". Ihe l.., "\.1\'\ had lIIade Ollt' 1Ir1'lleCl"'flll .lIlempl .11 pnxlucing ii' 01\11 ilUlld.ld, In I 12 Ihc dt'''igll('1 Rober! L SIt-'\·l.'l1~ \\,1' ,millon/cd 10 con~lnICl.1 large inllldad .•lhhOlIRh \\01 k \\';.\$ dd.I\c..'lI UllIil Ifljl. ~Ic\('ll~ dit:d 1\\0 \I.'
C.p181n Jonn Ertc_, u.. Swedlsh,bono !moenlor of u.. USS Monitor, U,,"," t\h; dw-tion don",. 01 monlton _ built for

u.. UnkIn H• ." durtnt u..

w.r. (HeAl

The .Ide eleviltlon .n.d deck plan 01 the USS Monitor• • hown with a proteetlve awning rigg.e
IWllcl,ld Ikmrd Oil Allg"ml:l IHlil. the da\' nll1j.tre,~ .lllocaled SI.:llIlillioll lO IX' 'I>ellt 011 Ill'\\' ironclad projects. Welle"'" fip.t "Iep was 10 a{hcni"l' for hid" ffll "hip' ~cillwr 01 iron. or wood and iron combined. lor ..c.'a or liver ..c.'I... iCl:.~ lie .lboO 'Ix'("ifit'd lilt· required draft. annor e H.:ssels. 111e hro;ld~idt." ironclad (,\/OW Inmsull'S) ProIX&'d I}\ \Ienick and Son, of Phil.lddphia \\~1S ahnu~1 it dirl'cl COP\ of lhl' Fa'nch [',four. and Ihc comCllliolMI dl""iKll 1Tl1l"1 h,lll' ,IPlx'OIled to tlJ(' 1'lO."lrd\ more CUlhen~tli\e Illl'lllbl'f'>. A ~corld '1ICCl'"",,flll bid was till' irtllHlad gunbo;11 (Ca/nw). de~iKIIt:d b\ Samud Pook of (AIl1l1l'Clicut, \\ho p1.11111t.'<1 to haH: 1he \c'sd buill al ~lr"tic Kivcr, COrll1l·clinl1. Hoth thcsc \'c"d.. \11'1'(' llarlled ~lrurtly beforc Ihey were cOll1pleted. l~ll"hllCti illnUcnced the a\\~lrd of the Conl1ecticut CUIlLJ~ICI. bitt ill the proC("" of lobb\'in~ he 1Ilt'1 Corneliu" DeLimalcr. the OWl1('r 01 ;\ Nt,\\, YOI'I.. irol1l\OrJ..:., rhe il1tlu~lriali~1 introduced UIl\hlleJlLO hi~ friel1tIJollll Eric"lJon, and logether Iht'\ e".. mined tlw pl.llls for Ihl' irulldld gunlXl;lt, Ericsson showed Ihe linancier his own plam for an irond.ld, and Bmhncll was illlpre~'(1 \\ith the d(:"~igll, Ilc 1X,."Camc e!f.1I1.

7

The Monitor and "monitor fever" The hC!>itation of the Ironclad iluard 10 appro\e EricsWll's design \\~IS understandable, ;IS it 1\~lS a complclch rcvolU1iona.... one, OIW hoard member even tried to force Eric'iSOll to add masts and MiLs to the design, but thc imelllor refused. Tllc dC'iign cClilered around a rc\olving b'1.ll1 111lTl't containing tWO ~moothborc gllll\, g:lln~ werl' protecled br eight l;lvc1"\ of I inch iron plale, ht'nl into gClllk' ClI .... C .. to create the 20 foot diameter turret, The hull W,lS constructed itt tWO parL.., the upper portion ,iuing on top of tbe conn:ntionalh ..h"ped lowl'l' hull lil...e a raft. lltis lIPlx'r portion was prol<.'Ctcd 1)\ two 11 inch pl,lIl'S bid on'r the deck be;ullS. and J inches of side armor in five I inch 'tripll, b;:lck<.-d ~ 25 inches ofo,lk, Whell the gUlls \,'ere fitted till' freehoal'd W,l'i 1(....... than 18 inchC"i, meaning Ill'r hull W'IS almost illlp0'lSible to hit if lin'd al b\ anOlher \\';Irship, 111e thin deck annur did Illeall Ihe wa",hip was \'\llnerahle to phlllging firt' from fortific.:llions. The hull was nat-bottumed. wilh .1 :\5 degree lItupe ,IIOp the bilge. The ~re\\ was proleCll:d b\ a rt~ce"S in the upper deck seClion, which meantlhe \'e~..cl had a dr'lft ofjU'il 10 ft 6 in. The 'lCrt'\1 \\':1-" IXlIH'red b\' t'\t) vibr.uing_le,er engines dc,iglled b\ Etin..'ioll hilll~lr. which propelled the \es:.el at a lOp ~peed of 6 I...not~, Smallt" engine.. lX.l\\e)'cd a \entilalion ~\...teJll and the tl1l,.et rota, ion nH-'chanbm, which look ~·I ~cond.. 10 IUnl thc turret lhruugh ,I cumplt:tt: circ1l'. rhe mechani~m \\.11> conu'ollt:d h\ a c1L1lch ill~icle ll1<: gun IUrret iL~dr. Erics.soll·s 120 ton ImH'1 \\~IS dt....igned to hou"'l' two 15 inch Dahlgren ~moothIXlre'i. bUI I\hell the lime came to 1II0llni thl' gUlls. onl. II inch pieces were ,I\tead. rhe lLlrrl'l was (ksigned to tlIrn Oil u,ition," \\'hl'lI not ill 1I'i(. it re"terl on a hl';I~" ring SCi ill the decl..., 11'011 'ihUller~ could oc Im\'ered O\'el' lhe gunporLs when ,he guns were no' in us(-', \\'hen ..he W;b cumpletl:'d, Ihl' ,\IUllifo/'\I.ls I i9 feel lOll"::. \\;th a beam uf 41.5 fccl. and looked lil..e no \lm'Ship \1 hich had CV('I' IX'l'l1 <;cell Ix:fore, She \\~I' CUlhtl1.lcled al the ConlillelHal Irorl \\'orks al Crl·l'lIpoint. Bmoklvl1, ;tllll IlcwlIpapennell Ilho \I';ll.clll:d Itl'r ('uII~lrllctioll duhbed die vt..'SM:l "Erics,ol1's Folly." The dnigllt'r huilt iht.' Vl'ssd with tht, financial ~upport of Bll,II,I('11 alld his p;trlncrs. who also 1X:lldiied tfllnl iht.' "tIIXOllll,ICling ul part, of lht: pn~jeci 10 lllei,. 01\11 \,trll,. or tlime of Iheir fricnds, 1\.'i lhe d:llt' of Ihe laullch :tppl'Oachcd, Gu"ta\'us Fox \l'mtc 10 Ericsson asking: him whal he plan lied to call lhe ironclad, lie replied lhal hi.. inlllc1ad: thus I \'ill prove a "l'\'l're monitor to ,ho't.' IConfedel';lIe] leadel.... Downing Sireet I\ill hardh \ it·\\, wilh inclifferellCl' thi, I;,,,t Yankee notion, this monilor 011 Iht·..e and mam .. imilar grllull(b I prop0..e to name lhe Ill·.... Ixltle.... M01/ilor.

-nw

M

M

Th. arTlnl 01 the USS Monitor in H.mpton Roada, during th. evening of Mareh 8, t862, came 100 lat. to prevent the de.truction 01 two Union w....hlp. at the hand. of Ihe CSS lli'll/nl•. In this engraving the monitor I. dwarfed b~ Ihe wooden .team wa ...hlp USS Mlnnesol8, (HeAl

M

,.

--

8

M

The MOil i/o,. wa~ IallllCht'd 011 January 30, 186::1. and con11l1is.~iolled into ~eni(t., Ic..s than a tllOll1h later. Lieutenant John L. Worden W;l" plaCt'd in COIIIIII,\I\(1 of her ·IH mall crew. ami Ull f\larch 4. he ~tl'an1t.'d south tOI\~lrds Ilampton Ru;td~ and his hi~tU1ic engagel11i..:llt I\'ith lht: j\ (olliIOl'S COllfl'dl'r,lte 0ppOllelll. Arri,inl{ in Ilall1plol1 Road.. 011 ~ larch H, Wordt:ll \\~LS too Lue 10 pre\t:llt lhc lirst :.unic of the \';fJ,ri1l1ll that da\. \1 hich rcsultt:d in the lo~~ of 11\0 Ul1iOll 1\,II1>hips and the h'TOll1\ding of 11'0 more. When Ill(' \ /1"1.'111/(/ renl'\It:d her allack lhe follo,\iTlI{ 1ll0rninK, lhe l\follilo" .,.Iiled to lIICt'1 hcr. Fur almost fOllr houn. tilt' two irund,II.)Il \ .\foll/tor had CClllntl'f('d Ihe Ihreat po*d I)\ Ihe l'irgUltll. the po~"ibilit, or fUrllll'r Conrt'dt'I~lIe ironclads breilkil1g Ihe Ullion blocl...1 de I\~~ lInlikeh. rhe indll~tri;JI North COllld e;lSih olll-prodllct: the South. .-\ \\hok fleci ufmonitor.. would ctTeCli\'('h seal otTthc O:mfedelOlCl from the rc~t or till' \\orld. Lincoln al"O reali,e1 gcnuine UPI)()lllillit~ ror the Conrd!crat("S to encourage the polilicalllnd naval illler.ention of BriL.'1in and France to break tht' blocl...aclt'. The railure or llll' \7'1.'1l1tl1to dereal the '\/O"'/Qr~:alcd the long-term fatc uf Ihc COllfcdel~lcl, After lhc 1\;IlI.1c of Il,unplOlI Road~. as the two days or fighting Ix'<:amc I...no"1I, -monilor fl'\'l'r- ~weplthc COIl11ln. \\11ile lhe Cl'el,'lIlen ofthL' l'SS Mo"ilorwerc liludcd ,1$ heroc~. EriCSMJlt and hi~ irunclad dc~ign \lere al~ placed 011 a pede'ltal. The onl)' gmllp who lIlail1l:tined sOll1e re"Cf\~llion'l abollt the monitur de~ign werc Ihe ofiiccrs or the ship and Ihcir Nil,'}' .':>cniors. Altllough Eric",'(1II later c1ailncd his design I\~I$ crealed exclusi\'cl)' to COllllll'r ConfL'delOlle irolldad~. thi~ I\~IS after tIll' debilclc a\ Fon Surtlter ill IH{j~. In eilrl} IH(j~ he had written Ihat: "this Sll'llClllre llhe MOl/i/o,,] lI'ill ad1110nblt the It'ader~ of the Southel'll rebellioll that Ihe batteries on thc b;t11ks nftll{'ir ril'l'r~ will no longer present b;"'I';e"" to Ihe enll':l11CC oj the Union l(JrCt's." The I'iews of the navy's leaders were swept aside ill the gt:ller.t1 excitt'lIlell1, which el'ell eXlended to include Prc~id('nl Lincoln and \\'clk~. Olher ironclad designs were abandoned in f;!Vor uf 1ll011itors, ilml Eri(~l>Ull could du no I''fong.

Thts longttudln.t tnterior vtew of the USS Monlton rudder, engtne and propeller shaft assembly show, the ove.hanglng upper dec:k IIruc:tu.e whtc:h protected the .udder and sc:rew from damege. tHeA)

j

•

Casemate Ironclads

The SIlCCC~~ of the MOllifO,.etTeni\dr ensurcd that three Ollter ironclad prototypes would not. lead to furthcr \"csscls of thcir type. The ess Nrw Irrmsid,s. the USS Cll/nUl ,md Ihl' USS Kl'Okllk therefore repre~cntcd a dead end in 1\,II"hip design. Of thc~e. the NnlJ Ironsides was b) far lhe 1Il0sll>OI\·crful. I)i~placing mer 4,000 ton", ..he carried an armament of 16 gun". mounit'd in hroad~ide batterie~. Although filted with :l ram bo\\. ~he ,,";IS too under-,xl\lcrcd It, Il~t' it in anger. The eellll;:ll ca~ernale I\,~ prOleclcd b\ up to 1.5 ill('"hl'~ of iron b••ekcd b\ 15 inc he.. of WIX)(1. which mack her illllX'rviou" 10 mo't Confederale shot. Outing her ,IIl,ld, OIl Fon SUlliter ill r\pril IR63. sandlxlb"S were added to prO\ide more pnul'clion IU ht.'r deck. She ~ened as ,\dmiral 011 1'0111'" na,.,.....hip in this b;utlt.-. alld a1thou~h ,m undl'r-pc)\It'red and ,u\·kward \·e~d. her funnidablc lirel>O\ll'r ,tlld
10

Tl14'

I_Ironclad

USS Gale_

was tlt.tct\ed aft., the Batt" 01 Mobll4o Bay, loIlowlrtll Mr con"....1on from an Ironclad gunboat to _ wooden one, She

fell ,,!cUm to monitor ''''e<, and wa. relee-ted from the ranks 01 the Ironclad n_t .".n though .he could .tllI heve played _

UHful

role.

(HeA.!

•

•

lll~ L'~ Krokllk \\'b .lIl ~,1I1110rl,."{\ b'1llllX>
bctwl'CIl

The ca. .mat. Ironclad USS New Ironside. photographed soon .tt...... wa. commi••ioned in Augu.t 1862. The shutt.... of he. {tunport. hev. been opened to provld• •d .. v.nlllation. Het" bar1<-type salling riiI w. . lat•• removed. (Smlthsonlan)

two GI~·matl><;. Although WhilllC\'<; plan:. \\('re disllli~·d. he thelll ill the wal..c of Ital11plon Roads. and \\~lS gi\(~Tl ;t The J\roJwk W;IS

tilt'

r~llblllitll'd

COlllracl.

duh built at the L'nckrhil1 Yard in ~C\\' York. ami ...hc \\~l<;

cOll1l1lis..,ioncd in

~1.I1'dl

1863. in lime 10 IliIrticip:l\c StUllll'r. She proved ;1 CllSll) di..,;tSler. ;l~ her t!lill armor prO\'ed illcapable 01 pre\'l'lltirlK IlLe in lht; ;Il\;lck 011 Flln

l>Clletl~lliOll 01 Corlfl'dt'l~lle

sho1. Alkr Ix.'ing hil ewer 90 time>; (including 14 hil~ l~lo\\' the w:l1erlinc), I!l.'r crew \\CI"(' unable 10 prc\"('11I ht"r rrom laking in \\~Iler, and ...he <;;111" lhe rolhMillg morning. The USS O"/en" In the summer of t862, viewed from forw.rd of tt\4l lunnel on tn. port ,IIdeo, Iooklr'lil .,tem. Het" pronounc:ed tumb~ home .nd h •••teet hull cllKkllng a •• d.arly vl.lbl•. IN..,al In.tltut.'

11

The PUNic clan monitor USS

WeefNIwfren In an envrallln; based on a photograph taken of the lrotlClad within days of the diN.troua attack on Fort Sumler In April 1863. The monitor Will hit S3 limes durin; the battle. (HeAl

Passaic class Within a weck of Hampton Roads. Congrc.!is appro\ed the allocation of funds for a new class of ten improved versions of the l\Io"ilor, following plall.!i dr.l\\"11 up by Ericsson while the original Monitor was still llllder cOllstructioll. Thcse vcssels \\'crt: described a~ ~monil()f'~,- the fir'll usc of tlu.' Il'rm as a t\"pc ofvc"sc1 ralher than an individual "hip. The"c \·c.!iscls btoGum.' l..nown as the P;~;lic cla.!iS. EriO.!ion·s dc~ign \\iL" almost rejected in f;\\ur of plans dr.IWlI up b~ John Lcnlhal1, Ih(' Chi(:f of the Bureau of Construction and Rcpair. Lcnthall's ironclad.. rl.-'Iied 011 the ..uperior [\riti..h-desiKned C..o1cs tlIrret. alld miglH well hre, All thesc con<;idered. the Passaic cia.... monitor.. \\'cre.' a great improvcment o\"er their protut\"pe. 'Ill(' failing-s of tht: I~ass."lic dhS rt:nectcd 11ll.-" inade<jllacie<; of the original ,\lolli/O/: "'hcn the\' w-.:rc ctJncl.-·i\'ed. Ihne \ e..se.'ls were designed to lighl enelll} ironclads, 1I0t fonilicalion~, ~u Illc deck armor remained Ihill, Similarly. Ericsson '.!i cnginc~ wen' ina(\('qllatt', ;Illd thc Passaic class ~hip<; \\ere barely ablc to .!itealll at 6 kIlOIS. The \e,~ds ,hould 11a\'C been equipped wiLh illlpro\'cd ellgine... but Eric,~oll'~ \ibrating.lcver engincs were filled with onlr minor modilications, As til(' v('s~(:l .. wcre larger than the.' !Honi/or, it was inevitable Ihat thq' would be.' IIl1der-puwc1'-.:d.

= 12

The USS Monte"" commanded bV John Worden (the former commander of the MonltMj attacked end de,troVed the Conlederate paddl_heel raider NlIsh'lilie on the Ofjeechee Allier In Georgia on February 28, 1883. Note how the monitor I, 'hown towing her boat' a,tem to reduce the risk of damage to them. (HeAl

ThiS cross-section of a P....lc class monitor empha.l:Ite. the ImprGllemenl, of the design Ollet" the USS MonItor. The location 0' the pilothouse Oller the Itun tu .....t en,urecl better communication between the ceptaln and 1M gunnery officer. The tUl'Ttlt rotation mecMnlsm w.. also more efficient, allowing a fa,t... rotation ,peed. (HC")

COrHr~tc""

for thcM"

Bo~lon. ~lass.achusctts,

\c~cb \\l'l t' plao:d in .,h, diffl'rCIlI \.Irds from to Wilmington. DcLl\l;tr(', anc! the fil"';t of them.

PfHJU;C, was cOlllmi~sioncd ill DCCClIlb('f 1862. Il\ the lill1c DIl I~ont launched hi... lltonitOl" ag;lirhl Fort SUll1ICf in April 1861. eighl more Pa.-'.-';.aic clas.. monitor.. IICI'l' ;\\~lilable. ami ...e\'en in all

lIw USS t\c!mil~ll

• • •

'.r

13

/Ii

Passak: class monftor, possibly

the USS

Lahloh, pnotoeraptoed

on the Stono AIotef' aouth 01 C""....lon In lat. 186
tool.. part in the allacl... A telllh r~lic dbS. the CSS Gamolleh,. wallo built in San Frnllcisco. and commissioned in Ma\ 18f)..~. rhe attack on Fort SlImter in Aptil 1863 wa~ ,\ failure. and mo~t of Ihe panicip.·u..ing monitOl's were d:III1.1ged b\ lion-penetrating hib. The action also highlighted Ihe \'ulllel the eng;lgcml"u helween the L'SS 1I«"awM'1 :lI1d the ironclad ~ At/lmla ,howed, 11ll'<;l' monitors were highh drcctin~ in combat again<;1 ollll'r ironclad~, til(' lask Ilw... were (k~igned 10 I)("I'forll1. The, w'ere k<;s '\ell ~uill'd 10 att:lcl..ing I>owl'rfui lortificaliOll~.

Canonicus class The bomb-afltmenl of Fort Fisher. North Carollna (January 13-15, 1865), lasted Oller eo ho<J ... In thl. Iltnograph three Canonlcu. cia.. monlto.. fUSS MaltopM;, USS CalMmlcus and uss Saugusl accompanied by the USS Monadnock are shown In the background, bombarding the Conlederate fori at clo.. range. (HCA)

14

A" Elic-.:.oll'~ Mar stood high ill the lir111amelll in 18H2. lht.' dL'~if{llel' "~ ,in llall\' assured of funher COlltl~ICI<;. alld in.luh h(' "as aw,lrdt'd a conll
Allal11ic prd, Ilcrt' all ('Ol1l1l1i,~i(l11l:d ill ISG·!. lIOIlt' of the \e,seb produced in w('~r('rn \'ard, \\~t~ l'\f'r comrni"..iollnl. Tllt:loe rnoni\().. ~ lIen' all ,till on lilt' 'UKl..S wlwlI Ihe report.'> 01 lhe pcrfonnallCt' 01 tlw I)~\,~;\ic cia,s monitors at Char1clolon Wt'rc fl.'ad by "'clk" and tilt' ;\1;1'" Depilrtml'll1. Con"cqucnth rccoll1l1wnc!alion" \\t'rt' made 10 incuq>Ol,llt' lll()diliGliioll~ 10 lilt" Canolliclilo deloign. The ILlITel I\~L' CO IX' proll'cled hI .. I!tiel.. glacis ring, and the pilolhomc \I,llo to hl' hl'a"ih armon'rl. rhrec 1II0niH)r, 01 thi, cl,I" wert' COln,ni~iorlcd in ,\pril 186·1, alld two more \1('1'(' added to lhe lilot b\ the fall. A funher 1\\0 \{:s~ls «(~l1ml"Hl and 01/f't)((I) "l're built in Cincinnali, Ohio, hill were Iw\·c'r cOII\llti'loiolled. Jrhtl'.ld. the\ \ltTl' :'>Old to lhc Pent\'ian gO\cnlllwnt. \I·hich renamed thclIl ,\/lllllluipa ,md .\Iall'Q (.a/)(I. Two mort' \t':.sels \\en.· laid up al :'\'e\1 Orlean", and \\C,'C m.'\er commissioncd until the lAiC);. The li\e C;'lllOni(u~ d.~~ IIItmilO.... \\hich ~I\\ ~I""in: during the \I,lr pnwed cfTeCli\e \1,Il~hilh, ,l!though the USS 'IffmttSl'h was 'lllll.. I}\ a IOq>edo (mine) a~ "he clllcrt"d ~Iohilc Ba\. The moclilicalion~ incorpot
Tile USS c.non/cu. pn.o1otraphed long attar tile war, at a na..al ....I.w ~ in Hampton Road' In Ul07, Although d~ommi..' - d in 1877,..n. remained

In mothNIl,

until In. flI'tl.ew, and wa, sold th
USS Roanoke Described as tilt· unfortunate \"Ictim of"rJl(lIIitor fcvcr," the stealll frigate USS Ilo{//wk" \\'a" commi~s;orH'd ill 18Si, and she was pre~ent al the BaILIe of IlamplOlI Ro.. d~ ill ~lalTh 18(i2. As a resilil ol"tll{' eltgagelllclll. ~IJ(' I\~l~ ~acrlficcd on Ihe alt,Ll' of 11",,11 experimentation, and Ie,s lhan Ihree wt'l:ks "lIl'r ~he was decommi~sioned, and sent 10 the apll\' nanll'd Nmdt\' IrUII Works in Nl'll York cit\" The cOlllersion of the ~lcall\ fi'ig;llc was lite bl~lirlchild ofJohn I.enth,," (Chief 01" Na\",]1 ConstruClion) and Ikl"tiamin E I"hel'\\'oo
15

t

--

ram USS

The

lronc~

w ••

converted from

II

R~.

atellm

frlga'e by cutt11lil down her upper hull and ,emolling her ma.ta. Her fOUf smoothbore. and

two rilled gun, were mounted In three turrets, which made the .......1 top-hellVY, end ,trelned

1M ..Istl"'ll wooden fnlme. 01 tne hull. SI>e ""'•• never used In .ellon. (USN)

J.lll' June 1863. bill 011 her \O''-hc;lIcr... rhe \\lXXICll dec" W
which 100"('1,, rcS('mhkd lht: CSS I'irf.,";/I/{l. Dc"ij{lIcd brj;ulll" l.elllhal1. "he \\';.IS a i .000 toll ironclad nUll WhOM' tC'chnical rcquit ellll'nt~ and attendant probll'lll" "'u":Iined the Brool..hn Na\'\ Yard. LelltI1.l11'... original de'iign inc0'l>o...'ing t\\l1 ltuTeLS W:'b "ltl'red following the faillirl' of the lwmolt" and the Ci~ma\(_' W;b thl' allern"lIh,--~ '>Ohllion. Th<.' U~ of ullscasoned timocr GUI~d dela\'~ in comtruction and. "Ithough ,he \\<15 1.1I11lched in.JlIh 186j.... he \\,15 ne\t~r compl<·ted, 11l(~ following \('ar ~hc I,":IS 'old to Fr
16

Ahhou}.(h the ... tud), of ~Ii,~i,...ippi River irorlclalt... is bel"omllhc' "cope or lhis hook, 2'1 ironcl;Ic"- 1"('1'(' huilt, cnm'l'rh.'d UI caplllfcd ami ll'cd on rhl' ~Ii ...sissippi River ;ll1d il.S tributaries during: the war. or lht''''', nine wefe 1I1011ilOf". Unlike tltt· fe ...t. the roul' IIItHlitors of the i\lilwau kt't' class Wl'fe not jU~1 purl' ri\'crirH' "l''isel ... bUI \\('I'l' Ccrew~, }.(i\illl{ the lIlollitol1; " tup spt.:ed 01 9 knots. Till' Illl'l"l'l confiKllI'ltion wa~ aho Lll1l1~U;tl. as he de~ignl'<1 tilt' Vl'sscl~ to cany all Erics",oll allel" turrel alld

a tUl'ret of his 0\\11 design further forward. These Eads turrclS were a signific.ult improvement over the Eric.son design as they Ilot ani) used steam engines to rotate the turret. bUI SIC,un power was also u~ed to nm the guns in and out, ele\
The Milwaukee clan monitor USS Chickasaw shown e~gl", the lroncilld CSS n1tmeSS_ dun", the closl", atagea of the Battle of Mobile Bay (Auguat 18114). Although they ware dealgned for use on the Mississippi River and Ita trlbutarlea, two Milwaukee class monitors pertlclpatod In the battle.

Twin-turreted monitors

The Na\}' Dcp
17

The powertultwin-turret monitors USS Mi/lnlonomoh (lett} and the USS Terror llormerly the Agemenl/cu/I) photographed at anchor ot\' Portland, Malna, In 1870. Although laid down In 1882, both were commissioned after the end 01 the conlllct, (Pe/lbody Museum, Salem, MaSl/lchuletts)

18

weeks aftcr the Battle of I-Iampton Roads. His \'cssel was to be constructed cntirely from iron, giving the hull a far grcatcr strength and 10Ilgc\'it)', Thc Onolldaga was built at the Contincntal Ironworks in Brooklyn (thc salllC yard that built the original A1onitor) , whilc thc engincs \\'crc built at the neighboring r-,'[organ Iron Works. \,·hich was owned by QuintaI'd. Hcr armamcnt was \·aricd, with a 150-pdr )latTot rille and a 15 inch Dahlgren srnOOi.hbon: in each tuITct (the rincd gUllS wcre moun led on the left of each p
Four addilionaltwin-lunctcd ironclads (refened to as the Kalamau)() class) were commissioned in hue 1863 and carl}' 1864. b.ucd on a design submined b} Bel"!,jamin F, DeI,mo. Like the Lenthall ironclads. the-.e \'esse1s were de<;igned 10 he constrUClCd in the So."trne four na\'al yards, which lacked the facilities to construct mel:.ll-riblx:d vessels. These ",ere lmc while e1ephanLS. and their planned displacement of 5.660 tons ,,';:'"" almosl six limt.... that of the original Monitor, Designed as ocean-going monilol"S, they were never completed. and rOlled on the stocks. Ericsson's ocean-going monitors The USS Dictator \\';:-tS anolher Ericsson design, a monitor \\'hich \\'
The powerful twin-lun'et ironclad uss~, photographed on the J...... Aiq<' during the aumrner 01 t864. She participated In HYeraI ac:tiont on the river, Including the Battle of ~t, ReKh on JanlAfl' 24, 1845.

(N;W;II1

Institute'

19

Ericsson planlled to ann her with l\\'O of Dahlgren's ne\\' 20 inch smoothbores, but production problcms prcvcmcd their delivery before the end of the \1';11', Although the Puri/all W:lS launched inJulr 1864, she W;:IS nc"cr complctcd and she languished in Nel\' York for another decade before she W:lS scr;apped. Although impressive, thcsc large sea· going ironclads went against the trend of concemrating on shallow drart cOa!>tal ami rherine monitors, Ther I\'cre also extremel}' costl)'. and at S 1.3 million. they were fi\'c times more cxpensive than the original .\lo/lj(orand double the price orthe USS Callol/jells. The light-draft monitor fiasco

The ~;l\''' Department decidcd that there \\'as a need for shallo\\' draft 1ll0niLars \\hich wcre capable of operating in cxtremely shallo\\' rivers, sllch as thc smallcr tributaries of Ihe Mississippi. Ericsson pl"Oduced preliminary sketchcs for a design in two da}'S during the sllmmcr of 1862. but wCnt no funhcr than to submit these to GUSt3\1.IS Fox. Fox thcn passed the draft plans to Chicf Engineer AI!>;m B, Simers for stud\" Instead. Simco. de\·t:!oped full)-f1edged plans, men modified these follo\\;ng the attacl: on FOil Sumtcr in Apl;l 1863. Simers \\'LS aU.achcd 10 the ~Ionitor Board in ~c\\' York, and John Lenthall had lillie or no communication \fith it. while Ericsson and Simers fell Olll. and refused to co-opernte on the project. Thc resull was that the p];ms \,'cre approved without serious scnllin\', and $imers ordered the construction of 20 of his light draft monilOrs. and $1'1 million \\<1S appropl;ated fOI' their construction, Dubbed the C."lSCO class. the vcssels wcrc built in Atlantic \.lrds and also in PitUiburg. Cincinnalli, and Sl Lolli.., Of the 20 Casco class monitors ordered, only three entered service before lhc end of the "'ar (Casco. Chimoand Xallbllc). The design provcd a disaster. as although the or'iginal dcsign was rcasonabl)' sound, a stream of subsequcnt modifications made by Simers increased the weighl of the vessels. but failed to compensate for the exu'a stress on the hull. The result 1\
20

W~n tn. we, ended man, 01 the monitors we~ mothballed. In thl. photo. lurretle•• Casco cia•• monitor lie. In the f0rll9round. While th~e Cllnonlcu. end P....le cia•• monlto~ .~ ...n ••tem of her In the beckground, The turrelle" w....1he. been t.ntaUwel, Identified a. elthe, the USS C.,co or the USS Chlmo. (USN)

1lIe Casco cia•• monltM USS

Chima (Iettl and the powerful USS Tonawenct. lrightl plc:tured at anchor off the Wa.hlngton Na.., Vard atter the wa,. Al1hough the Chima wa. commi••1oned In J~ry 1885, the TornIwanda was .tiU being completed at lh40 war's end. The eaplu,ed Confe6erate raide, Stonewall I. ¥i.ible in the background. IUSN)

Thl. cro••·.Ktlon ot the USS Monlro. I. ba.ed on a ",Ie. 0' more detailed plans and Ihows ttle forward facing 01 her Iwo bolle,. and furnacel. A lim liar boiler configuration wal adopted In Panaic and Canonicul clan monitors. IHCAI

..

onh pr.IClical sollllion was to mi...c lhe hulls of the 1ll0nilOrs 1)\ almost tWO feet. which added to the \"eight of the vc..,...cls. Con~qllelllly. jlllJt before lhe first \essels were completed. the tllrrets were retllO\ed. and the fiNt threc monitors \,'ere cOlwcn(>d imo torpedo Ixxlts, armcd \,·il.h II inch Dahlgrens on an open moullI. :tnd;1 ..,par lorpedo. placed on a r(>tractable polc extending from the bow.. of the \·c..scl... None s:tw aeti\'e ..,e ....·icc. but they \\'ert:' uscd as guard boa~. The remainder of thc Casco c1a~ were laid up as they ,,'erc complelCd. all embarrdssing Ilotilb of white elephants. The cmire fiasco was the r('''lIlt of a lack of control I"illtill the Navy Dcparlmcm. and Welle.., and his senior subordinates were dul} CaStig;:ltcd for the affair.

MONITOR CONSTRUCTION METHODS At the stare of lhe \'~Ir. Na\'al Vards I,'cre 110t equipped 10 build ironclad w'I1'Ships. While facilities werc gl~lduall}' improved in these dockprds. lhi~ lOok time, and private iron foundries had to lillthc gap. In f"ct. all htll a handful of \\~Injme monilors were built under COnL'~lCt with pl'imu.: prds. under the stlpen'ision of the Monitor Iward in New York. The original Monilor \\~lS designed co allow its COINrllCtion ll~ing existing facililic~ in these foundries. ,md b)' conventional metal fabric:ltion lechniqucs. [Iicsson also prodded detailed plans of c\'el1' aspect of conslnlclion. allowing the fabrication of different elements in other sites. This speeded produCtion, and \\'lIen the clements \\ere

21

" ~ing rNN;hine WI. this "lin UHG 10 PfOduce • _ I h

llnfshed wrfxe to the armored plst.. used to protect ,he turrets end hull. 01 Union monl!ors. This par1k:ular machl". w•• in.t.lled • 1 the Conlln,nUlI lronwortt. In Greenpolnl. New Yon... Engr."lng from Scientific A.... riean, ()(:totMr 2S, 1882. (Aulhon collection)

22

brought to lilt: C.onunCIH.tl Ironworks in Uroolhn. the

\t..s~1

could be

a,,~,,·"(,lIIblt.·d under

the Ioupcnision of the dt.'!oigll(·r. h was therefore built in a 1Il.lIl11CI' \\'hich dilTered fl'OlIl C\Cn. prL...iolb ~hip consU1.tClioll pl'OjCCI. -nli, nolion of slIb-col\tI';u:"ting \\~b repeated in the COIlSlnlctioll of 111~1 ~llbs{'qllt'lIl monilors. ;l~ 1()ul1(hit.'S ~pcciali/l'd in (('nain aspCCb. "llell .IS cngim..... 11llTCts or anllCW plating. The COlilillcl1lalll'ullwork.~Imel the abilitv to forge plale iron ililO large ..labs, !lUI for lhe COI1SU11Ctiull uf most monilor"! rolled plall' I\oa'!l u .....>d. It \\~l' produced b... pa~sing tlloltl'll iron betl\CCll two Stc"ts of rolll·I.... which fomuxl it illlo f1alllhects, Ahholl/o(h Ihe maximum Ihickness of rolled plate 111 llll' time was 2.5 inche., Ihill ill\ul\'(:d a CO'ith rc
Bending 1 In. thick metal plate. In a New York foundry, 1862. Thl. particular h~draullc pre •• produced ClONed plates for gun turret. by applying up to 1,400 ton, 01 pressure to the metal plate. From Harper's Monthly Magazine, September la62.lAuthor'. collection}

armor, i l j the upper deck c:-;tended beyond tho:: lowel' hull. These also formed prolec!i\'e covers for the propeller assembly and lhe iluchor well. The turret was constructed by bending a series of 1 inch iron plates. each measuring 9 ft :-; 3 ft. These were assembled in a workshop around a 20 ft diameter wooden fr
:

..I.,

",.

{t-..,

23

MONITORS IN OPERATION The role of the monitors

The original MonitOr\',IS designed 10 light I:llelln ironclads bU!, COlltral)' 10 his latel' Statell1elll~. the dc..igncl· John EriC'ison also d.limed the \essel could succe"sfullr engage shore Ixlltcries, The success of the USS Momtor in cOllllleJ'ing the thre;1I of the C.5S "i~"io led 10 a gross oH·rc..tilllation of the potential of Eric..son·.. design. The monitor as ;l l>hip I've was imbucd \\;th qualitie.. that exceeded the limitations of the dCliign. Con.seqllcIllJ}, \\hen thellc \eSl>Cls \\cre 'lent intn action a~ins, l)()wcrfuJ fortiliCllions such ;l!i Fon SunllC'r and ,hl' cOtcr. This debacle led to.1 re-(.'\Sitic c1as:. monitor L'SS H«hllll'kro dcfc.Hed the GlSelll.lle ironclad CSS Atlanta in June 1R63 demomlr.Hed the \lIperioril\ of the~ impro\'cd \,cr...iOIlS of the original lUonitor mer Confeder.tle casemate ironclads. This ~uperioril\ was fun her dcmomtr.ned during the B.tltle of Mobile Ii....., in f\UguSI 18&1. I\hl.'1l the "lill,.IUI..cC cI.tS!> monitor CSS (Jllckfljowwas able 10 pound the irOI,c1ad (.$5 Tronn$N inlo submission. DUling thc Battle ofTrenl·S Re:lch fouglll on the J.II11es Rh er in Januan 1865. the t\,;n-turreted monilor L'S~ Ollondagll clearll outclassed the ironcl:td CSS \'i'l.01tllo (II}. Thc \,'eaknt:SS of the ntonilor de\iglls 1;1\ lit their poor bllO'-dn(\ and lacI.. of seaworthiness. Gi\'cn Ihe 1I"f' of 1ll0nilOI'S 10 bobter thc block..'lde nflhe Confederatc CO;bt. il \\,L~ illc\;lablt: th:llllll'''<' \'essels ,,'ere placed .It rillk of loss thl'Ough I'OlIgh ~(':" or underwater ob~tnlctions, Con"C<jllcml\', of all Ihe 01>CI~ttional lIlunilurs \,ltich \,ere 10~1 during Ihe \'~lr, onll the L:SS KtOIruk ~lIlk as a rcsult of Cllent\ fire, The CSS MOllitor and lhe CSS I\i'elwwknl foundcrccl in rough '\('.\'>, while lhe USS Tiv'IJIIIMh. lhe USS l'nto/JS£O and the L'SS Mi/uxwhl't' \\cl'e Slink aftcr hilling ellctll} toq>cdoc\ (mines). No 1lionitOl \I"~ CH:r IO~1 or ('Wit \crioll~h dmnaged whilt: ill action with an ene"no ironclad, \\ hilt: 11"U Cunfedcl
24

Th. USS Wlteh.wlr.n d.pleted 'n • atonn, 18B3. The P....lc cl... monitor pl.yed • I.aodlnll rol. In the blockaod. 01 Charleston but, on the .rt.moon of o.c.mbef> B, ane lay at anchor when • pl. '9r.nll up 'rom the not1h·.aal. W.t.r lI00ded In through. I_.rd hatch, .nd ah. WNnt Gown by the bow wlth'n Ii.... minutes. tAuthor"a colleetlonl

USS Keokuk

USS Weehawken

•

• I

•

s

I

'"

. I

ft.

.. uss

Tecum$eh

USS Chickasaw

0

,.

00

"'"

3D

I 0

5

50

I

I 10

15

It. m

•

,

--

-

.-

The bombardment of Fort Sumter, 1863

o

USS MONITOR

.,

1~5'r-, D

1

_

1. Anchor 2. Anchor We/A

18. Store Rooms

3. Boatswain's Locker (both SIdes}

20. Glass Deck lJghlS (COV9I'ed In aetl()l'l)

4. Hand-powered Windlass 5. Chaln Locker 6. Tiller Aclualong Ropes

21. Turret Traverse Mecharnsm 22. Turret Support Beams 23. Gun Carnage Rads

7, Timber Deck Beams 8. Deck Beam Supports and Bracngs

24. Tl.lfT9t Frame StMlchIons (2,5 n.)

9. MaIl1

19.

Bulkhead

Crews' Quarters (Berth Deck)

25. Gunport Stopper (shown open) 26. Tl.lfT9t HatCh (1 01 2)

BotIef (1

10. Brass TlXIet Rng 11. HlAi Ivmot 12. Ship's \o\hleeI 13. ObservalJOn Sbt (Q.5 n.)

30. Smokestack (1 0I2j

14, PIlothouse

31. Engine

27,

29. Coal Bunker 8lJkhead

15. Deck Plalong 16. Gapta.ffs Gabln (Stateroom on

17.

~'

State Rooms

012)

28, Blower EngIne Ion both Sldesl

St~ Sdel

32. Venldator 33. PropeIer HousIng

34. """"" 35. PropeIer Wei and Access HaICh 36. Condenser (S!artxlard Side 0I"iy) 37. Steam DIscharge PIpes and Stop vatves 38. Engne 8IAIheads 39. MaIn TlXIet Beam

40. 11 n.

~ren smoothbOre

'" USS MOIU.dfloclr

USS Onondaga

0

20

'0

I

0

•

"'"

30 !

I

"

SO

!

I 'S

ft.

'"

The bombardment of Fort Fisher, 1865

.

-

."

~-

" USS New Ironsides

1

0

20

'0

I 0

.010

30

SO

I

t

I

t

5

'0

15

ft. m

\\'~r~ captul'nl followillK ~l1g:~gClll~IlL~ wi1h monitors. This is perhaps the grCate~1 jll.-.tilicatioll for lhe Elilh placed by the US l\'a\} ill John Eric,,~oll's rt'V01'11ionarv r1c~ign.

Crewlng the monitors Thc original MOIl/1m' had a cre\\' of 5R men. As monitor d('~ign, becamc larger alld more COlllpleS. lilt.' \c.-.~h. COIl~(luenlh needed incr~a..,illgh large crews. Pass.... ic and ('..;1Il0nicll~ class manila...., rC<juin.. d a erc\\ of 65-88 10 operatc. I,hile doub!t:-tUlTelcrl monitors ~llch as tl](' L'~S OIlOlldflgfl required ,I tTe\\ of 130-1;;0. Ol!> did lhe armored glillho'll L'SS l,(l1nlfl. The 1ll0"t manpOWt'r illlcn,i\'(' of lhe L'nion irondad" was til(' USS S,W frO/wdn. \,hich h.ld;l cOlllp1cTllelll of 460 men. In Iheor,. Ihe USS /{ooPlOk, IMd a full COlllp1elllC111 of :{50. hlll she neVCf recei\'(:-d more Ihan a fr.trlioll nflwr 1'1111 cOlllplelllellllx.'Cau"<.' of her limited lI"<.'flllm·...". Thcse cre....'S \\Crt.' dh'idcd into two ""Hchc" in the s:allle manner a.-. 'he rCSI of Ihe net't, and thc"l' .... ~re further !>lIlxli\'ided into di,i~ions. \\ 11('1"(' each was re..pomible for a P';lrticlllar area of the ~hip'" operation (t·.g. turret divi~ion or t'ngineerillg di,i~ion). -J:lling the L'SS M01ll10r as an esample. her 58 hands included I!\ officers and 45 .-.ailors of various rale~. Five of the offin'rs .md 17 ~Iilo .... wcrc cnginecrs. f('~poll~ihlt' for the opelOltion of the enginl-'~ and all machinen. including Ilw Hlrrel rotation svstClII. 1\ funhcr j onicel1i (including lhe clplain) and 21 solilor.. \\'cre ~of lilt' lilH'.- I"l'.. pon~ible for gunnen·. and all la~L~ rd.ning 10 st: t:n.-.igns, :\ of Id10m \Icre cngineers. Whih" the rrew of thc l'SS MOlllior wcre all \"ohmlcer,. .'!IllbsC<jUt:111 1ll0ni1Ors 11,1(1 their erel,'s dl';lft~d 10 lhelll in lhe .'!I;lllle manller;~ all uillcr \e<;,d~ ill the Ill'CI.

The erew of the USS Mon/lor. In en eno... vlnt

o.sed on a photo

taken lwo month. eftar the Battle of Hampton Road •• AltMugh Improvement. we.. made 10 the c ..w qlUlrte.. on S\>btequenl

monitors. condition, in the. . lronc:a.d, were probably the wont I" the enli.. ne.l. lHC~

33

"

The Interior I'rout of the USS Mo,lItOl"s berth deck and forward C:lblns, tlken from a plan drawn by ErIc:..on. The «aptaln had a «Ibln and It.taroom forward,

..

white amalter of1k:er's

It.terooms flanked the Wlrdroom. The c:... w berthed further aft. (HeAl

••

,

•

•

I .... .

. . .· .,/, I~...-

-.<'O---Lt.L

II

·

'

I

, I

~

-

The Linc onicc.'" \\'cre con...idcred ~llpcrior 10 the engineers. .1rn;t officers who ...cned ill monitors \'OIUlllcl'red to do ,"1, alld ,,'cre therefore more willing 10 accept the technical ned it \\,IS like -Ihing in a wcl1. Sailors serving itl monitors had to endure these conditions for 1ll00ilh~ 011 cnd. but OCGI"ionalh a monitor would be allowcd (0 put into Ix>rts such as New Orleans. Kc\ We~( or Port Roral for supplies. Illaimcttancc. and;\ Mrun ashorc,- For more ,ignificant repairs. monitOI'S relllfiled north to clili~1II

M

34

New York, I~oslon, or 'lome othcr In:~or port. Allhough COllditiOlIS wcre prirniti\'e, 'Ie'....ice on board a monitor can'jed I,'ilh il an eklllt'nt of glamor, a$ Ihe \e'-"el" \\l'rl' all11o:.t guaranteed 10 be in the forefront of an)' m~or cllgagl'nlclll. Ordnance and gunnery By Ihe sian of Ihe Civil \\'ar. Ihe US Na,'}'

W,IS well equipped Il'illl ordnance. and througholll the war the "Cn-lcC relied exclU'Iiveiv on srnoolhbore ~hell guns dc'igncd b\' John Dahlgren and rifled gUll" de'ligned b\ Robert ParmI!. Apan from ,I few exceptiom. all monilOl"S were fillcd I,'ith Dahlgren \Intxuhbore.s. John A. Dahlgren was ,I :.en;ing naval orTicer 1.110 \'~l'i as.signt:"d 10 ordnance dUI\ in 1847. lie dcveloped a nel" SI"Slem of naval ordnance. and produced plam for !>Clera! lIe\\' gUlls. These included his II inch and 15 inch smoolhbores, Inll he also developed 12-poundcr ~boal howillers~ for IISC ag;linsl boarders or LO ann smalliaunclws. In IR61 Commander Dahlgren bec,lIllt' cOIllIII:lIIder of Ihe WashinglOn :\av\ Yard. alld inJlIh 1862 he \\'l'i promoted 10 captain and nallled a" Chief of Ihe r\a\"\ Dep:tnmem'\ Ordnance Bureau before n"lllming 10 aCli\(.' St" .....·ice wilh the lIeel in 1863. Dahlgren's first 9 inch 'Imoothbore shell gun ClHcrcd se.....·icc in 1850. and il ,,'as easih identifiable Ihrongh it.s ~soda boule dmpe. The larRl'r guns which D'lhlg-rell ill~talled in Union monitors \Iere simph bigger I·e.....ions of this \\capon. The following vear he produced an II inch 'Ill\oolhborc, \\hich weighed 15.iOO pounds (just o\"er 8 tons) and tired a 135 pound shell. It \\~IS aho capable uf firing a 165 pound :.ulid roundshOl. The shol I\~b pl'Opelled b} a 15 pound charge of pOl,·der. but after Ihe gUlls oflhe USS i\lOllltorfailcd to pcneu'ale Ihe hull of the C \'irgi,lia. D'lhlgren ordered the charge illcre.....ed to 20-25 pound.., \\'hich imprmed the !>Cllclmlilc power of the sho!. Dahlgren also produCt'd a 10 inch slIlOOlhbore for u~(.· 011 a pivot carriage. and the USS Calma carried four 9 inch Dahlgft'IIS 011 :.irnilar pivot mOlllll'l. de,ignec! 10 lirc out of either side of thc hull. Conventional \\~INhips carried 1I1e'le h'1.IIIS mounted 011 W()(X!c11 "~lal... ill( clI... iage~, a French design 1"ill1 tl\'O li'olll wheels. and these were abo lI~d on board Ihe USS Ni'lIIlmIBidl'~ 1\lollitors fequir{:d special Lfcallllent. and consequent.l), special 'I1iding caniages were developed by .John EriC'~)Il, working in consultat.ion witll DalllgrCll. R

" cross-Hellon ollhe tu.... t of thrI USS MonItor, showing her 11 In. Dah!vren smoolhbMe guns IVn 1_.nI Into their firing position. Her lu....1 lumlng mKh.anlsm w.s Improyeclln subMquent lftOflltor designs.. (HCAl

35

This stm_pherle depletion of th4 Interior 01 the USS Moniton tu ....t is • re._bty KCurete _. no. erew are busy ",nnfn9 t"- gun f_ard while. gun e.pt.in behind th4 piec. " snown waiting 10 pull the "nyard .ttached 10 the firing pin, (HeAl

Dahlgrcn was al~J \\orling on dcsiJ{m for 13 inch, I~ inch and 20 inch "moOlhbon'~ \\hclI till' w;tr broll' OUI. lclllbcr. but It.'dmical prnhkm" at lheir foundr} pff.'\cllled tll('lIl app<.'aring in ~lIniciellt qu, one of rach of Ih(',,(' m'w gUll" \\~IS Ii 11t.'d i II to Ille turrclS of l'a,~aic c1;tl>s llluniwr, rat ht.'f than tlw 1\1'0 which had l){'ell plalll1ed, '1'111"(' Ei inch gUll' \\eig'hcd 42,000 pound, (21 IIlm), and fired a ~t-\O pOlllld "hell or a ·110 pUUTld wlid ,ho\. The "hecr weight of the gun ;tnd plOjcclile lH'("(',,,il
3.

Interiof" -new of the turret of • P....le e.... monitor, with .n t 1 In. Dahlgren amoolhbo... In t"- foreground, and • 15 In. D.hlg...n fitted In tne port mounting. Note the melhod of storing re.dy-un shot In rings I'\.Innlng around Ih. Inlld. ollhe tur...t, lind the ovemelld gantry used to load the pro/Ktll.. Into the gunl. (HCA)

The Interior pl.n of 1M lu.....1 01 • C.nonk". cl••• monitor, TM tUf"e1 Interior 01 • P.... k: C~II monitor was .Imll." e ..cept tM r1ght-halld "un w•• In II In, plec:e, TM two 15 In, O.hl"...n s.moothbore......hown run b.ck lor reloldl"", An o...,rheld ".ntry used to Io.d the projectile., En"r....ln" Irom MUS N.vy O",n.nc:e Inltructlon., 1888,~ (Author" coll_tlon)

w"

•

.... ...... ~

L

required :~j minllh:S, AI~o, the II il1ch I'~l~ d\'~i,L(Iled 10 be tired bva crew of I (j mell, althollgll it COl lid be operated by a cn:\\' of eight. Thc I:) inch ~111oothbore nonnallv nc('ded a cr('\\, of 1'1 mcn, which \l'ould haH.' kd to ol'crcro\nlin~ within the tlltTCI. B~' relying on 1Il('chanical llid~, till' gUll cuuld be upl'nl1l.'d by a Cle\1 or eight men, The large"t Dahlgren to enter pl'OdllClion \\"I~ Ihe 20 inch ~1Il()\llhhore, which \\dghed 100,000 pourub.. and th(',,(, \,ere ,I\~\ilablc In Ihl' 11<1\1 by late 186 I. t\hhough EriD..'>OIl pblllU~d to iii 1\\0 of thc~c gUllS into hi~ occangoing monitor Plill/rm, the 1('~~llw\er entered "eJ'\'iCt~. In IR61. Roben 1'. I'arron l1.Id d(·..igrll'd.1 ..erie.. of .Mil. III rillcd gUlI~ for naval usc. including a 100 puulUh.'t (6.4 illCh) rille, I~, Ihe end oftlw \(',11' hi" I;)(} 1X>llnder (R inch) Parrott rille ('Ilt('l"cd '>Cr...ice. The L'S .\run classified Ihe samt" I'CapOTl ,l~ a 200 pOlllldel I)arrott rille, It fired .1 1:;2 IX)llnd ~hen over file mik'S, \\hich wa~ apptOXimall'h 10111' tim('~ Ihe nln~e of an II inch Dahlgn'n. Dt·.. pil(· Ilw"t: rigun:" Iht, III lilt ipk' uf rilling.1 gUll had rlt'\t"r IXCII fulh .Iccepted ill the pre-\\.lI' L" :":,11"1. a~ 11,1\.11 l,lclicians emphasi/ed \'eight of lill'!x)\\(:,r 0\('1' r,mge and 'lecm'ln. \\11ik Ihe Confederate :'\.11"1 n·li(·d on rifkd gllns to pro..id(' the principal ;mnamelll ill their ironcl.ltb. the Union :"i.II"I tended to .lloid the* wealx>n~, and ill~teild rdi('d nn the imtllt:u ..t: haltcring Ix>wcr of Dahlgren's smoothlX>f{''i. rht: onh coo~tal mOllitor to carl"\ rifled gun~ \\.1) the L:SS /{()(IIIO/". and she nL'\er ~l\\' anilC ~1"\'iCl'. The L:SS (.II/nUl callied 1'\'0 100 1>OIllIder Parrolt riflt:d guns, whik' th(' L'SS .\'flU /roll$ulf'!J \\-;lS armed wilh 1\'0 150 1X>lllldt:I' rillc~ and t\\O ::;0 !>ourl(lcl'~ in addition to ht:r IIMitl Ixllle.... of II inch 1),lhlgrell .,mOOlhbore~, Vnli!..e Dahlgren's gun~ \\hkh wt:re comp1ctd\' rdiahk, P,IITotl rillL'" \\t:r(' occlll1der rilkd gllllS. Due 10 the re~lriClt"d space imide.1 gUll turrct. lUechanical aid.s were Il'('d 10 perform marn gunnel"\ function" Pulleys \I'ert: lI)ed to 1,Iise pon ~IOpp('I" and hand-cranh wt:I'c u~cd to nUl lIlt: /{lm~ UUI and in. GUliS \\ere lrained b\ rotaling the tLIrrcl. and at aCliulI slat ions an cngincer was detailed to operalt: lhe crank in~ido.: tho.: lIlrrct \\hiclt ell~folgo.:d the lllrret roraliol' S)'StCll1. 11 Wrl~ found it was often diflicult 10 ~IOp the lllrro.:t lurning • when the ('!WIlI)' wa" on larget, so the gUll was • sometimes fired while the • [m'l't't \I"I~ still in motion. t\fier tiring Ihe IlllTel \'-;lS llurmall) trained fore and aft to allow po\\'dcr rind ShOl to be passcd up from lhe mag.uine. alLhollgh a ~lIlall rt:adr·use ~upph \\-;lS ~lOrcd in~idc the turrel il..sClf. An O\cl'heild gant~

37

W;:I$ used CO lransport the shot ofa 15 inch gun across the turn.'tto the Illuule. but II inch shot W;:IS looded bv hand, using a shot holder. which resembled a small ,>tretcher. GlI1'ied b)' IWO lllen. In action the smoke, noi~ and confusion musl haH.' been indescribable. and it \\,15 e,lS\ for the gttnnen oOicer in charge of the turret to become disorient;:ned. On monitors where the pilothouse was fined o\el' the turret (it remained slatioll:!!) lhrough its aUOlchmem to a Cel1l1';l! spindle). the cOnlrol of the gun \,'as far e'lsier, a~ lite helmsman W:IS able 10 confirm when Ihe gum WC'rt' facing the larget.

John L. Worden, the cllptilin of the USS Monitor, wal the flnt man to command luch II vellel In IIoCtlon, and wal wounded during the engagement with the CSS Vlrvinia. Hil IItteNICtlon report Will cn>clal to the modification 01 lubsequent monllOl" designl. He _ t on to command the USS Monl.uk off Chertelton, and eventullily bee.me an adml ... 1. (HC"')

38

Monitors in action Na\.11 officers were unable to draw on any bod)' of tactical experiellce whell lhe \\,;:11' began. The only na\'al lactical manuals ;mlilable which "'ere relevant in an age ofr;:Lpid technological change were ofliule LIst' LO the commanders of Ihe Union monitors. }\II that cOIllIll:llltlers like LiCUll'IMnt John Worden of thc L'SS MomlOr hcI"-tlmc pon stopper>; open. and lurning lhe ll1rret :1\\"" from the CTlcm\ 10 reload. As be;uillg marks in!>idl' the 11IITeI were quicklv ublitt.'lilted. it Ix-carne almost impossible to aim lhe tUITCI with am degrt-~ of 'Icelll.le\". I.ieutenalll D;:IIIlruck the III1Tel. lhe shots ,,'ert' ullable to 1X'llelntte the annoI'. To ensure communications bt'lI\cell lhe turret alltl the pilolhouse, Lielltena11l Kl.'ckr ;ll1d a clcrk 1~1I1 back alld furth l.>ctwecll the IWO lucations with messages. After all1lo~t fUllr hOIlI' of lighling. a rilkd ..hell from the l'i'1-";//;a '....Ilck IIIl' MQ//iIQ"'~ pilothouse and exploded. wOllnding Wordell and tl'aring iI\\.I\ part of the proll"Cth'c annoI'. Gret'lle ltOUli look over cOlllln:lIld of the ~hip, but 1)\ that time the l'irgillia had wilhdmwn hack 10 ~ot·folk. The action \\.13 studied b\ other future monitor commandeN. and \,hen the Pa~aic class \(.''''5<:1S elltered ~en'icc, their oOicer.. knc\\' \\'hat Ihe\ might expect. Tht' ellg
During Ihe attack on Fort Sumter launched bW Admiral Du Pont on April 7, 18&3, eight Passaic class monltora accompanied by USS K_kuk and USS New IronaJde. bombarded Ihe fort, but wel'1l forctld to withdraw due to Conltlderate 111'11, Unlil t~ att4tek on Fort Fisher two yea", ~ter the engagemtlfll Ow the lal"tlftt deplowment 01 monitors in action. (HCAJ

manCII\'ering for po~ilion, and lhe II'rrhUll'k"ll captained bv Commander Rodger~ dO'oCd to wilhin :\00 varos. taking up a 1~lkinK po~iljon which prt~\elll{:d the Confederatt:s from relllllling lire "ilh more than one lifh..d gun. TIw <;('\en hili <;cored IJ\ til(" line filHed 10 penetrale the 1ll0nitOl: hUI the 1\;"'llfIlI'km\ II inch and 15 inch b'1l1h hil the enenl\ ironcl,ld four timo. twice wilh each !,run, 80th of the 15 inch sho.... Ctu'>t--d pellelJ~lting d.amage 10 thc Atltmtn, alld she 'illlTenderc..·d "ilhill L-) minlltL'S. nlC crfecti\clWSS of Dahlgl'en\ 'ilIIOOlhlxlre gllns filing hea" solid shot \'-;lS dearh demollsU";lted in the enlr-lgell1cllt. and conseqllelllh rolllldshol \'-;lS considered the projectile of choice again~1 encm\' ironclads. DUling the H.lllle of Mobile Ba~ in AlIglI;'1 18&1. the ironclad C . 7nlllnMr \\~C> dfL'Ctiveh pinned b} wooden \mn;hips. allm,ing the LJSS C/lldw.S(IW to lake up a raking position [>0 prds from thc encm} 's stern. Fire from her II inch Klim. tore ~lllkrior to the casemate ironclad, especially if lhe Union \,t:s.."oC1 carried 15 inch gUllS, Thc pt'rfonnallce of IllOllilOl"i :tg;tinsl stmic fortificaliol1~ \1~IS le\s illlpressi\'e, During Admiral Du POlll'S aHack on Fon SUlIlter in April 180:\, only the USS Nrw hV/ljidnJ proved herself to be virtually im'nlncrablc to cllelllY tirc, The Confedcrah:s poured shot inlO lhe fleet, and an ofiiccroll lhe USS P(/.'Jsair reponed th;ll 15 shots passed his ship in the openillg seconds of the baltic. She \\~IS SU1lck, 36 timcs during the cn",ragCll1cnt, while the USS 11~//(/wlwlI sul1ert:'d 53 hits, lWO more lhan Ihe USS .\'(II/luckt't. All the:.c shots denIed lhe armor of the various turrets, but none of thclll Iknetr:ued. althOltgh sevcl~11 ir~llries were Gillscd by concus"sion. If a cre\I'lllan happened to 1)(' leaning against the lurret side when it was hit he could be scl;ollslv ir~llred or even killed by the concussion. Dc..'SpiIC this. Ericsson's :....nored plale fUllctioned \\"cllunder what was pmlxlbly its mOSI ~....'Cre test of the \\":Ir, lil'o tlllTets I,'ere jammed b\ enem, shol sui king the join bctM.'Cll the illiTe! and the deck. effectiveh pUlting the ships OUl of action. Two other lIlonitors suffered hits to their KLIIlS, which damag(."d them and pUl them 0111 of action.

3.

The USS Monllor Nnk In • ".1. 0" C.pe Han.... In lilt. Dec.mber 18&2. In th" engr.vlng the USS Rhode 1s/lIrtd Is .hown eoming to the .id 01 the .Inklng v. .&ti. All bul 115 01 he'r c:rew w... reKuecl belo.. !he Monllor loun6ered. (HCA)

The !t::SM)IIS learned that da}' bore fruit I\'hell the monitor fleet '\~IS bri\'en Ihc task of bombarding Fort Fishcr. This time each \essel was assignl.'d specific lafg('t~. ~lIch as indi\idnal cl11brastlfc1>. AhhUllgh 011 the first da\' thc L'SS ulliQ/lirus '\~lS hit 36 limes. no ~criolls damaKc ,.-as inflicled. largeh due 10 thc proll"Cti\c glacis that had been fillcd around the tlllTl'L n\ conU'ISI. almost C\'C,",' gUll in the fon was dismountL-d and d;llnaged during Ihe bombardmenL To CIlI'iC IIl;Lximum damage. monitol'l fil'll fired Olle of their b'llilS ;11 a target. which ill(."\itabl" drm'C thc defender.... behind CO\l'r. fhc gunners \,'ould tlwn wait ulltillhe COnfederatt.... rt.--elllel'gL'l1 before firing agaill. Allhough lllonilOl~ "·crt.' iII-dcsignl'!l for lighting po\\erful !ohore foniliGilions. and fin' from Confederalc positions l"ft;"ul;lrh ~tnlck Ihe 'ihips, no monilOr \"IS C\'cr '\CI;oush dam;lged ill ,I l)OlIIlxlrdlllelit. although the ClSo:matc ironclad Jv.oJlIIk 'kill k ,L'i a rl...1I1I of cnt.'lIl\ firc, .\flcr lIlodifications 10 the IIIITt't proll'nion of Ill(' I'OL,,-';aic dOL"•. monilol'" were \inualh im'tllncrablc Itl ('nc:m\ fill:'. and could inflict I,ll mOil' dam,lge 10 ent.'IlI\ fortilicllions Ihall Ihe\ r<.-cehed.

CATALOG OF OCEAN-GOING UNION MONITORS Ahhuugh lhe ~lih'~lIIkee clas~ ship~ Wt.:le not de,i!{lIt.:d a~ occan-going ",ulliiUf~. tht.:\' ha\t.: ocerl indudnl ill this li,t becaust.: t\\U of tbe class jllilH'd the flCean-going Gilif 1l1ockadirlg Scflladr011. and participated ill lilt' I\altle of l\lobile Uav in 18(H. ;\1"'0. ahhOllgh the USS Nrlll/rol/.Sidl'.J :tnd USS Calma werc not 1I10Ilitor~. they h;l\'c 1><:t.:11 included ;l~ Ihe)' were oCt.·an-going ironc1ad~. and fought along~idl' monitor~ in action. Simi];,rl\' lhe spar turpcdu boat USS ."j)ll)"11'1I VI/wil hOi' ht.:{·n included as it I\~l' of irorlchld comtructioll, alld ~uppo,.ted tlle monitor USS ()/I0n(/f/!f(/ during" lhe Ilank of '1'1'1.:111 \ Rl'ach in IS(lf'I. All uther Union ",ollitor~ :lIld caseOl:lle irOllclads wert.: nOI uce;l1lgoing n;s.,ds. and I.'ill form p;trt ora laler Osprey stud)'.

MONITOR Built:

GALENA New Yorio;, NY

Displacement: 987 tons Dimensions: 179ftx41 ft6in,x10ft6in. Speed, 9 knots Armament: 2 x 11 in. smoothbores in a single turret Annoc 9 in. pilothouSe, 8 in. turret, 4.5 in. hull. 2 in, deck

Crew: 5ervic:e:

40

4'

CommlSSlOl'led Februaly 1862; laundered December 31, 1862

Built: MystiC. CT Displacement: 950 tons Dimensions:

210 ft x36ft x 12ft 81n.

Speed,

8 knots

Armament:

2 x 100 pdf nfles + 4 x 9 in. smoothbores, broadSIde mounted. capable ollinng to either side

Annoc Crew: 5efvice:

3.5 in. hull. unarmored deck

150 Commlssiooed April 1862

RONSIDES Philadelphia, PA Displacement: 4,120 tons 232 ft)( 57 ft 6 in. )( 15 ft 8 In. Dimensions: Spoed, 6 knots Armament: 2 x 150 pdrnfles + 14)( 11 in. smoothbores, broadside mounted, capable of firing to one side only 1011'I. pilothouse. 3-4.5 in. hull. 1 in. deck

PASSAIC CLASS 10 in class Buill:

Jersey CIty, NJ (2). New York, NY (3), Philadelphia. PA (2), Boston, MA (2), Wilmington. DE (1) 1,335 tons 200ftx46ftx11ft6in. 7 knots 1 )( 15 In, smoothboAt + 1 )( 11 in, smoothbore in a single turret (except camanche 2 x 15 in. smoothbores) 8 11'I. pilothouse, 11 in. turret,S in, huU, 1 in, deck

DIsplacement: Dimensions:

Spoed, Armament:

460 Commissioned August 1862

ROANOKE

Cnow, SeMce

.7-88

PaSSlJlC:

Commissioned November 1862

Montauk:

CommiSSlOO8d December 1862 Commissioned December 1862 Comml$SlOl"l8d January 1863: sunk by lorpedo January 16, 1865 CommlSSlOf18d January 1863: laundered December 6, 1863 Commissloned February 1863 Commissioned February 1863 Comrnrssioned February 1863 CommIssioned Apol 1863 Commissioned May 1865

""han" BuWt:

New York. NY (Converted from sleam frigate) DIsplacement: 6,300 tons 278 It x 52 ft 61n )(24 ft 311'I. DImeosions:

Spoed,

• knot.

AnnamenC

1 x 15 In. smoothbore + I )( 150 pdr nfle (forward turret) 1 x 15 in. smoothboAt + I x 11 in. smoothbore (middle turret) 1 x 11 In. smoothbore + 1 )( 150 pdr nfle (after turret) 9 in. pilothouse, 11 in. turrets, 4.5 in. casemate, 3 in. hull, 2.5 in. deck 350 CommiSSIoned June 1863: re-desigllated a harbor-deleose vessel Hampton Roads July 1863

Crew:

5eMce:

KEOKUK Built: New York, NY Displacement: 677 tons Oimeoslons: 159 ft 6 In. )( 36 ft x 8 ft 6 In. Speed: 9 knots Armameot: 2 x 11 In. smoothbores on pivot mounts In two casemates 4 In. hull and deck, 4.5 in. turrets and pilothouse

Crew:

92

Sa""e,,,

CommiSSIOned March 1863; foundered April 8, 1863

L

Patapsco:

""-"""', C8tski1: Nantucket;

Lehigh: Camanche:

CANONIC US CLASS 5 in class during war, plus 4 built after W81 ended Bultt: Jersey CIty, NJ (3). Boston. MA (1). Wilmington, DE (1) Displacement: 2,100 tons Dimeoslons: 223 ft )( 43 It 4 In. x 13 ft 6 In. (saugus and Canonlcus were 235 ft )( 43 ft 8 In. x 13 fl6ln) Speed: 8 knots Armament: 2 )( 15 In. smoothbores In a single turret Armor: 11 in, turret and pilothouse,S In, hull. 1.5 In. deck Crew: servIce canonlcus: Commissioned April 1864 Saugus: Commissioned April 1864 TecumS8h: CommISSioned April 1864; sunk by torpedo AugustS. 1864 Manhattan: CommISSioned June 1864 Mahopac: Commissioned September 1864 catawba. Manaynuck, Oneota, and TiPf)fJCa/106 were completed after the war ended

.5

.,

DICTATOR

MILWAUKEE CLASS

Built: New York, NY Displacement: 4,438 tons 312 tt)( 50 fI)( 20 fl6 in. DirnenstOl'ls: Speed, 9 knots 2 )( 15 In. smoothbores in a single turret Armament: 15 in, turrel, 121n. pilothouse, 6 in. hull, 1.5 In. deck

4 blllit during war Buitt: Carondelet, MQ Displacement: 1,300 tons DnnenslOlls: 229 fI )( 56 fI 8 In. )( 6 ft Speed: 9 knots Armament: 4 )( 11 in. smoothbores In two turrets (two guns per turret) 8 in. turrets and pilothouse, 4 in. huD, 1.5 In. deck

"'""'"

C<ew' Service:

17' Commissioned November 1864

ONONDACA Built: New York, NY Dlsplacemeot: 2.592 Ions 226 tt )(49 f13 in, x 12 ttl0 in. DImensions: Speed. 7 knots Annament, 2)( 8 in. ntles in forwanl tulTet + 2 x 15 in. smoothbores in atter tUlT9t 11.75 in tUff9tS and pliolhouse, 5.5 '".

C<ew, 5eMce

138

Winnebago:

CommIssioned April 1864 CommIssioned May 1864 Commissioned July 1864

-,

Chickasaw: Milwaukee:

CommissO'led August 1864; sunk by torpedo March 18, 1865

hull, 1 in. deck 130 ConvmSSlOned Man::h 1864

MONADNOCK CLASS 2 in class

MoMdnock Boston, MA: AgamentlCuS Ponsmouth, ME DIsplacement 3,295 tons 250 tt)(53 tt8ln. x 12 tt3ln. DImensions: Speed, 9 knots Armament: 4 )( 15 in. smoothbores In two turrets (two guns per turret) Armor: 11 In. turrets, 8 In. pilothouse, 4.5 In. hull, 1.5 In. deck Crew: 130 Buill:

Sefvice Monadnock: Agamenticus:

Commlsslof1ed OCtober 1864 CommisslOfled May 1865

SPUYTEN DUYVIL Buitt: Displacement: Dimensions: Speed, Armament:

"'""'" 42

Mystic, CT 207 tons 84 tt2In.)(2() tt8 in.)( 7 fl6 in. 5 knots One spar torpedo 5 In. pliolhouse, 5 in. hull, 3 in. deck

Crew:

23

SeMce:

Commissioned OCtobef 1864

CASCO CLASS 4ln class dUling W8f. 16 buIll aflM war ended Buill: Gasco, Chime Boston, MA: Tumis ChestM, PA: Naubuc Williamsburg, NY Displacement: 1.175 tons Dimensions: 225 fI )( 45 fI )( 9 fI Speed: 9 knots Casco, Naubuc 1 )( 11 In. smoothbore Armament: on an open pivot mount. spar torpedo: TunxlS 1 )( 11 in. smoothbore and one 150 pdr rifle In a single turret; Chime 1 )( 150 pdr rifle 10 In. pilothouse. 3 In. hull and deck; Armor: Tunx/s 8 in. turret Crew: 69

Sefvice Casco: Commissioned Apnl 1864 Tumis: Commissioned July 1864 Chimo: Commissioned January 1865 Nauooc: Commissioned March 1865 Cohoes, Etlah, Klamath, Koks, Modoc, Napa, Nausett, Shawnee, Shiloh, Squando, Suncook, Umpqua, Wassuc, Wuhaw. Yazoo, and Yuma were completed afler the Waf ended. and most WMe never commlS$lOf1ed.

Ships not commissioned

The following

~hips l\l.. rc

ordered during the

\\~Ir,

bUI were

Ilc.:\'t:r

commissioned berol e l11e war (,lldecl. Pwillll/

MoniTor [VIX'; 2 x 20 in .... rnoolhbore~ in a single

Grct.'npoilil. 1\"1: ~h{" \\~I..~ Iaullched in .1111)' 1864, but smpc::ndcd following the ('nd of the \\~Ir.

[UlH'!.

nllilt

in

CQIlSl11.1ction W;L~

J)1l1ll1l'11ht>rg

Casemate irollcl;,d; " x 15 ill ....ll1oothborL'S. 8 x II in. srnOOlhlx)1'l.:s, bro."ldside mOIIllIL'd. Built in GrcclllX)ill1. 1\)'. she was laid dO\m in Oclober

1862. but W;IS nOllallllchc.:d lImil alief the end of the war. She "',IS nL'\cr completed or commi'iSiollL-d. but \\~LS sold to the French N
Monitor t\lle: I x 15 in. ~lIloothboR"S in [,,'0 IUlTeb (1\\0 h'1.IIlS pcr IlIITt'I). Bllill in Brooklvn, 1'\"'1: ~he wa... lalllldlcd in AUh'1lSl 186.'J. but commissioned aHa lhe end of lhe war. TQllmllfl1/fla

Monilor tvpe;" x 15 Ill. ~1II{)OIhbores ill two IUrrelS (twO &"lIllS I~r IUl'rel). Built in I)hiladdphia. PA. she W,LS launched in !\Ia~ 1864. bUI commissioned afler the end of lhe \\~Ir. She was renamed Al1Iphnl,in 1869. K;llam;u(x) da~\ .. in class (Kflliltl/(l:.f)t). Pfl5.SflCOtlllllXt)', QlIillsigmnontl and S/lOkamtJxoII); monitor 1}l>C; 4 x 15 ill. 'i;IIIO(}lhborl,.'S in IWO IUlTCIS (two guns per IlIITel). Built in various pow. frolll POl'tsmOluh 10 Philaddphia. lhe} wcre laid down bUI Ilever laullched alld 'iCr.lpped while still on the slOcks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY The follo\\'ing rcadil)' amilablc books arc recomnlended for those inlerested in fUrlher rcaditlg on lhe slll~jecl. Canne).'s 1';11(0111\' Nmry contilins i' more extcnshc liMing" of rdC\~ult publications. Calltlq', Donald 1.. 1 UnfO/II:~ Navy: '1111' ShiIJS, Mell ami Orgflllisfi/ion. 186/-65. Cotlwar Maritime Press, 1998 Cantle)', Donald L.. Thr Old .\'11'(11I/ Nml)' [2 volumes], Naval InSlitute Prc"s, 1990 & 199.1 Rush, Kichard (cd.). OJfiria/ Hr(fllrl\' oJ Ihl' V'lioll find C-!mjrd",.all' Nrl1l;ps in tI,,· \1~lr oj tI" /MH'l/iOll [30 mlulllcs I. Govem men I Print ing Onicc. 1895-1921 Siher~lonc. Paul II.. lI'an/II/H oj IIII' Civil I\'ar Nmtips. Na\~,1 Irwilllle Press. 1989

43

COLOR PLATE COMMENTARY PLATE A USS Keokuk C. W. Whitney 01 New YorIoI designed thIS unusoaI 1fOf'lC1ad, whtch proved 10 be one of the least successful vessels commIssioned Inlo the Umon fIeel. Whitney was a 10lTnEll" partner of John Ericsson, the desIgoef of the Monrtcx, but he lacked the Swedish engineer's flair lor invention. K&oIwk used an expenmental armor scheme wrth a "sandwich" of 1 in. Iron plates eocloslog a 2 In. inner lay« of wood. secured In vertICal strips 0010 a thin wooden framework. These were then covered With a skin of boiler plate which was less than 0,5 in. thick. Her ordnance was carried in two casemates which resembled turrets, but were in fact immobile. Each carried an 11 In. Dahlgren smoothbore, capable of flrirlg out of three IIxed gunports (two broadside ports and one lacing the bow or stern). She soon proved to be hopelessly

under-protected.

~

smoothbores, but a shortage of ordnance forced the fitting 01 one 11 in. gun In place 01 a larger piece. USS camanche was armed with two 15 in. guns, but the remainder ret
1863, She foundered during a stoml off Moms Island, near Char1eston. on December 6. 1863. PLATE B USS Tecumseh The USS Tecumseh was one 01 the mne vessels of the Canonicus class, live 01 whICh were commissioned before the war ended. The class was effectIVely an enlarged version of the Passaic class. Designed by John Ericsson, these vessels incorporated improvements over their predecessors. includmg the introduction of finer lines (giving an improved perlormance), thicker armor. a more efficient turrettr8versing mechanism and a low glacis protecting the vulnerable junction betwOOf"l the turret and the deck. Like the Passaic

P....lc cills. monitor USS Montaulr beached lor repairs

In March tee3, atter she was damaged by. mine during the ••pedillon up Georglil's Qlleechee RI..... In la'e February.

The dams". was repaired In lime for the Montauk to plIrtlclpllte In the attack on Fort Sumter a month laler. (HeA)

In February 1863 she joined the Union squadron off Charleston and under the command of Commander A. O. Rhind she participated in the attack on Fort Sumter in April. She was hit 90 times and, riddled With shot. she limped away from the action. She continued to take on water and sank the folloWing day.

44

USS Weehawken Folowng the success of the ongIIl8I MoMor. ten SIITiIar vessels were order'ed. although the design WOUd i1corporate several ~ on the original vessel. In effect, the Monitor was a ptOlotype lor these vessels, wt'ICh became known as the Passaic dass. The greatest mpn;:MlfTl8flt was the rnc:ultlng of the pilothouse r:NfJ( the turret, er'ISIXlOQ 0CWtStant COfTWT'U"CltlOll between the caplaln, the helrnsm<Ml <Wld the gun crews. The vessels wore desq1ed to carry two 15 in. 0ahIgren

The ulerlo. of the turret 01 the US! Monllo. photog.aphed two month, after the Battle of Hampton Aoad'. The Improv.d ,loping armor around the pHothou•• can be ,een behind the turret. (Naval Institute)

class morlltors, vessels 01 the Canonicus class had the pilothouse mounted on top 01 the turret. The smokestack was retractable, whICh reduced the nsk 01 damage. In additIOn, these monitors were fined WIth a ventilatIOn system, making livlng conditIOnS retatlVety bearable compared 10 other ironclads 01 lhe penod. The Tecumseh was commlS5lOOed In AprIl, 1864, and first saw sefVlCe on the James River near Richmond belore being sent south to jOin the Gu" BlockadIng Squadron gathered off MobIle Bay, On August 5. t864. she led the vanguard of Adffilral Farragut's fleet as It forced Its way Into the bay. but the fTlOI"Iltor struck a torpedo (mine). and sank Wlthm mll1Utes. Most of her crew were lost. Indudlng her commander. Gaptam Craven.

The Pa'Nie c:lass monitor USS L.ehigh photognophed on the Jame, River In July t883. ~ later participated in the blockade of CNlrle,ton, and the aUac:k, on Fort Sumter. Hote the amaU field howitzer on her lonoc:astle, desi1lned tOf" 11M against enemy sharpshooters on the riverbank. (Nlltional ~h"'"l

USS Chickasaw

The USS Chickasaw was a shallow-drafted river monrtOf of the Milwaukee class, a double lurret design developed by James Eads fOf use on lhe Mississippi RIVElf. BUilt in Cincinnalti. the monitor carried four 11 Inch Dahlgren smoothbores. mounted two to each turret. The after lurret was a standard Ericsson model. but the forward lurret was designed by Eads, and was completely steam-operated. a novel design which proved highly effective. Both the USS Chickasaw ar'ld her sister the USS Winnebago saw service during the Battle of Mobile Bay (1864), and served In the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. Thus. although designed for use on Inlar'ld rivers, they proved seaworthy enough lor use in coastal water5. PLATE C The bombardment of Fort Sumter, 1863 On AprIl 7. 1863, Admira! Do Pont launched the Union ironclad flget agalnslthe defenses of Charleston Harbor. The key to the Confederate defense was Fort Sumler, blocking the central channel into the harbor. Do Pont had nine Ironclads at his dIsposal; hiS flagship the USS New Ironsides, seven mOl'lltors of the PaSS3lC class (Weehawken. PassaIC, Montauk, Patapsco, catskill, Nantucket. ar'ld Nahant), and the unique USS KeoKuk The admiral formed his lIeet Into a SlOgIe line. placing hIS flagshiP in its center. The lead shiP was the USS Weehawken. commanded by Captain John Rodgefs. Rodgers advanced north up the main ship channel.

approaching WIthin 500 yatds of Fort Sumter around 2.30 pm before the gamsoo opened fire. As he drew abreasl of lhe fort he spotted a lme of barrels ahead of him. whlch he surrmsed were torpedoes (mines). He stopped hiS ship. which plunged the hne behind him into disarray. Communications had almost completely broken down. and after three hours. as the monltOfS began suffering heavy damage, Do Pont was forced 10 steam to the head of the line so he could order a withdrawal. The order was gIVen at 5.30 pm, and the Union ironclads limped out of range. Some 439 shots from Fort Sumter and nearby Fort Mouttrie had struck the fleet, and the USS Keokuk was almost Slnklng. The flagship alone was hit 93 times, but the total casualties belied Ihe ferocity of the ligttting. Only one Union sailor was killed and 22 injured. but there was no doubt that the action was an unmitigated disastElf for the Union monitOfS. The plate depicts the scene shortly after the Weehawken halted, then backed away from lhe line of suspected torpedoes. Rodgers' monitor is shown in the foreground, while the damaged Keokuk lies between her and the fort. The remainder of the Union fleet is shown in line astern, exchanging shots with the garrison. PLATE 0 USS Monitor The USS Monitor was the forerunner ot the US Navy's seagoing Ironclad fleet. Designed by Swedish-born engineer John Encsson, she was unlike any other warship that came before, and to many she was more a f1oatll1g gun turret than a real combatant. She proved her worth dunng her one-day engagement wl!h the CSS Virplnra. Although later monllOfS were larger, better protected and carried a heavier armament, the USS Monitor was assured of her place in history as the most celebrated partICipant In lhe fll'St battle between two ironclad warships. She was wit specifically 10 counter the development of Confederate II'OOClads. and

45

Januat)' 1865. Although cnbciZed because hOI" wooden hull was rotten, she confounded her critics aft8l" the war by sailing to San FranciSCO around cape Horn in 1865. She remained In service for another two decades.

whefl she eogaged Confedel'ate batteries at Drewry's Blull (May 15, 1862) he!' lack of deck protection left her vulnerable to enemy lire, Duong the summef of 1862 the Monitor was modified to incorporate improvements suggested by he!' officers, These ItlCIuded the additIOn of a sloped glacis to protect the pilothouse and a r8lsecl and linked smokestack. She foundered in a storm off Cape Hanel'as on December 31,1862, while she was being towed south to jom the Umon squadron off Charleston. The wreck now forms a protected Federal Manne Sanctuary.

USS Onondaga

The USS Onondaga was ordered in 1862 and built by her designer, George W. Ouintard, at the Con\JOental Ironworks at Gfeenpolnt, New York. The engIne was produced under a separate contract in another New Yert foundry. She was designed to carT)' one 15 in. Dahlgren smoothbore in each of her Ericsson-deslgned turrets. alongside an 8 in. nfIe, maklOQ her unique in the fleet for havlnQ mixed nfled and smoothbore guns in her turrets. an attempt to counter the Confederate reliance on rifled guns in their Ironclads. Just before she entered service her 8 in. guns were replaced by more powerful 150 pdr nfles. CommiSSioned in the spring of 1864, she served on the James River, and participated In the

PLATE E USS Monadnock The creation of a twm-tUfTE!ted ironclad was the next logical step in the development of the monitor. USS Monadnock and her siStel'-$hlp Agamenflcus were ISId down in 1862, based on a design by John Lenthall, the Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Only the Monadnock saw sefVlce in the war, as her slstel' was only commissioned in May 1865. The Monadnock was wooden hulled, which meant she could be built at the navy's Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire rather than in a specialist private yard. She was commissioned in October 1864, allowing hOI" to participate in the bombardment of Fort Fisher in December 1864 and

Battle of Tr8f1t's Reach (January 24, 1865), although she also fought in several less spectacular engagements against Confederate battel'ies. Following the end of the war she was decommissioned and was subsequently sold to France. Her successful transatlantic passage proved her basic seaworthiness, despite hel' low freeboard. PLATE F The bombardment of Fort Fisher, 1865 By the end of 1864. WitmlOoton remalOed the only sigruficant port on the AUantlc seaboard which remained in ConfedtWate hands. The port lay on the cape Fear RIver", whose mouth was protected by Fort Fishel'". au on a sand spit. the

T,... USS Hew lron,'de, ,hown ener her me.t. end ri9ging _ moved, end Iter ,moke,tKk we, cut down. Atthough .ne w IUfilI.h, under-powered ,nd difficult to hendle by .Ione, Iter comm.snder viewed the me.t. . . an encumbrance In battle. (Pmate collectlonl

'1191",

,

••

I ,

I

r

,r-.r-

I

,

~-~

I •

,

,

II. contemporary ...terc:olor P;llch by R. G. SkeNt 01 the Ironclad gunboat USS ~_. '"'- 'ketch mMte ahot1:ly

r

shore the USS Mahopac is shown leading the Inshore SQuadron.

.ner het' 'bonlY, ettac:k on the Conlede te betteries on Drewry's Sluff on the J e _ Rlve'r, end the dem.ge Inftlcled to her ..... not been fully repaired. (USN) ImpOSII'lQ lor1JficatlOr'l used sand earthworks 10 form the strongest defensIVe poSItIOn In the Confederacy. with 44 heavy guns, guarded by rnWlefteids and trenches. It was gamsoned by 1,500 men, commanded by Colonel WiII,am

Lamb. A Union neet 01 60 vessels was assembled to attack the fortress In late 1864, the largest naval concentratIOn undertaken dunog the wsf. An Initial assault was made on

Christmas Day 1864, the land attack supported by a devastating naval bombardment. The attack was repulsed. gIVing the gamson a brief respite. but two weeks later the fleet returned. On January 13. 1865, the Union warships began a non-stop bombardment of Fort Fisher which lasted for 60 hoors. The 40.000 shells and mortar bombs fired into the position destroyed many of the gun positions and caused OVef 300 casualties, The l'lOn-stop bombardment also demoralized the garrison, and prevented any return fire, as the defenders were forced to take sheltar in their earthworks. On the aftarnoon of January 15 a force of 8,000 Union troops assaulted the fort, coming under heavy canister and rifle fire during their advance across the open neck of the sand spit. Despite heavy casuaJlles the attackers entered the fort, and after a bitter hand-fo-hand struggle lasting Into the night the defenders were forced to surrender, A week later Wilmington fell to the Union, and the Coofederacy was finally cut off from the sea. The plate depicts the situation on January 14, when the fort had been subiec1ed to constant bombardment for OVef a day, While the more vulnerable wooden warships remained at extreme range, the division of a dozen ironclads maintaIned a posltl()l'l 500-600 yalds from the earthworks, wtule a SQuadron of 10tK monitors positIOned themselves be!ween the line of ironclads and the shore. The USS New Ironsides IS shown in the foreground, WIth the USS Canonicus astern of her. Between these lfOOClads and the

PLATE G

USS New Ironsides The USS New Itonsk1es was corTlmISSIOnEld as a prototype. and her armot9CI casemate desIQll was eflectrYely a copy of that of the French ocean-go.ng irondad, the Gkwe. Ordered at: the same tlrTle as Ericsson's MotVtor, the Y8SS8l presented a YIabIe a1tematJve to the monrtor concept. She may have become the pattern for further UnIon ironclads. but after the Battle of Hampton Roads (1862) when "monitor fever" swept the North, only improved versions of the monitor desIQll were ordered, The vessel had a protected casemate (or battery oox) of 4,5 in. of forged metal plating backed by 15 in. 01 WO<XI, making her one of the best protected WarshiPS In the fleet She was also one of the best armed, carrying 16 heavy guns, including two nlles. Although her engines were under-powered, her salling rig was removed soon after she was commissioned, as her command91'S recognized that the masts were little more than a liability In action, This awkward vessel 5elVed as a flagship lor the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and spent most of her wartime career off Charleston, then participated in the bombardment of Fort Fisher.

USS Galena A second alternative to the monitor design was the gunboat USS Galena, which carried a 3 in. protective layer of steel planking secured to her hull, with a pronour'ICed tumblehome to encourage the deflection of enemy shot. Built at the Maxson Fish Yard in Mystic. Connecticut, according to a design devised by S. H. Pook, she was commissioned in April 1862, and saw action less than a month later at Drewry's Bluff, below RIChmond, VIrginia. Her 8fmOI" proved woefully inadequate against plunging fire from the bluff, and she was WIthdrawn from active service. Her armor was removed, and the Galena returned to servICe in February 1864 as an unprotected w<M:lden gunboat, She particIpated in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. and ended the war as part of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron.

47

INDEX

."

1_.I'iStQ.•1 ,......... ·._.lW*oI. \bo

---

.~t·'\li'L.ortt·Sl§T_ IR.'I

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1(1,

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, ..............-....,,,:!O "

"..... ""7

P _ ......... , , ' "

' .... 1 _ 1 9 1,~r_I(I_1?I.n

II." ,.l"~""'" .. _ _11..,...... _ 1ft.».". 11

,"" '"",",110_01.,,--,.1_

l'i.'i.'--" I ..

11,1"11,2'.'" "_ H,......... U bufit-_ _ rfI«_ f._.

h .... _ ,

1"''''-1'.'' _. n."

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f.",.l~_,. \ _

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1"",I,"lI '.7,

1'-11

II. II

1" I

~

"

0'21,"> 4. M, 9,:U

ll'''''''''1

f_4<.I"'lliI.H

,. i;,

,. :111-11 11 '1 ;!l}.u

(..<_ _ , _...._

).17. 111,.. 'til iZ,t3

d"-'-~ '.6,'!l."

1"'1'''''

1_'

11.111.12

"

l'

,,,,," II, 'So 'IIi,

"..,.t>

~

1_1_, 1""'_71,

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11.17

1 - " " II

, _.......

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'10-21

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-

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1_

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II

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'IT'"

~

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ORDER OF BATTLE Th< ~..""t l>:onb '" h"tllt). ,

WARRIOR

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The design, development, operation and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages.

Union Monitor

1861-65 The nrst seagoing ironclad was the USS l\olol/;(or, and her profile has made her one of the most easily recognised warships of all time. I:ollowing her inconclusive battle with the Confederate

Full color artwork

Cutaway artwork

ironclad \'irgi"itl on March 9, 1862, the production of Union monitors was accelerated and by the end of the year a powerful squadron of vessels was able to challenge Confederate control of ports and estuaries. At the end of the war the US Navy possessed a modern coastal fleet carrying the most powerful artillery afloat. This book covers the design, development and opewtional history of the

illustrations

OSPREY PUBLISHING

www.o.spreypubli.shing.com

Unrivaled detail

Union's monitor fleet.

ISBN 1-84176-306-3

JJIJJJi

Union Monitor 1861-65

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Raumschiff Monitor verschollen

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LCD MONITOR REPAIR

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Neuer Kurs für Monitor

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Der Monitor im Orbit

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The Story of the Monitor

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Beyond Political Correctness (German Monitor)

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Libuse Monikova (German Monitor S.)

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