USS Monitor & the Ironclads

USS Monitor and its Confederate adversary CSS Virginia ushered in a new era of naval warfare on March 9, 1862, when they engaged in the first duel between ironclad ships in Hampton Roads. Fighting to draw, the two ships signaled the end for the wooden warships of the navies worldwide. For the remainder of the war, both the Union and Confederate navies would build numerous ironclads, working to improve upon the lessons learned from these two pioneering vessels.