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May 19, 1100
Vikings
The vikings were the first to ever use ironclads, but their design did not exactly fit the definition of an ironclad. The definition is a ship covered or protected with iron and impossible to contradict, weaken, or change. The vikings put their sheilds against their ships for protection, but the sheilds didn't completely cover or protect the ships. Even though the viking ships didn't fit the complete definition of ironclad they are still considered the first ironclads. -
Turtle Boat
The Turtle boat was created when the Japanese ruler Hideyoshi invaded Korea. Since Korea was being attacked the Korean government asked Admiral Sun-Shin Yi to help defend the country. He used private funds to create the first ironclad, the Turtle Boat. -
French and British
In the 1850s and early 1860s during the French and British War, ironclads were introduced again after about two centries of dissapearing. These were some of the first true ironclads and they were built just a few years before the Civil War broke out. These ironclads were used to attack forts on land and some woodhull ships, but these ironclads never fought each other. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
The battle of Hampton Rads was the first clash of the ironclads in history. The C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) was built to break the Union Blockade on Hampton Roads, and the U.S.S. Monitor was built to prevent the Merrimack from breaking the blockade. The Merrimack had already succeeded in desstroying two ships the day before, the U.S.S. Cumberland and the U.S.S. Congress. The Merrimack had planned to finish destroying the blockade on the same day that it battled the Monitor. -
Battle of Hampton Roads continued
The battle lasted for hours with little damage done to each ship. Finally, after hours of fighting, the Merrimack was forced to retreat back to Gosport Navy Yard for repairs. There is still debate over wheter the battle of Hampton Roads was a Union victory because of the Merrimack's retreat or a draw because neither ship succeeded in destroying the other. -
Destruction of the Merrimack
After the battle of Hampton Roads the Union was pushing down towards Gosport Navy Yard, so the Confederates were forced to burn Gosport Navy Yard and set fire to the Merrimack. When the fire reached the powder magazine a huge explosion completely destroyed the Merrimack for good. -
Affect of Ironclad ships today
Ironclads have inspired many of our modern day navy ships such as destroyers, battleships, aircraft carriers, and crusiers.
