Today marks the 147th anniversary of the battle that set naval architecture on a new course in history.
The USS Monitor clashed with the CSS Virginia which was returning to "mop up" the wooden ships of the Union navy at Hampton Roads, Virginia. The day before, the Virginia had decimated the fleet with little damage to itself. The wooden sides of the federal matches were no match for the ironclad Confederate ship.
During the night, the hurriedly-constructed Monitor arrived at the battle scene and took position between the rest of the fleet and the Virginia.
The battle was largely inconclusive, with the Virginia eventually leaving the scene and retiring to her berth.
Other naval powers immediately canceled all orders for wooden ships and began the construction of ironclad ones. The Monitor's turret was especially copied. The idea of potting large calibre guns in a revolving turret so they could be fired in almost any direction revolutionized naval architecture into the 1940s.
Quite an Engagement. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
