In response to this effort, the Union began building their own ironclads. To overcome this disadvantage, the Confederacy decide to pursue the construction and purchase of ironclads as a way to gain some sort of naval advantage. Also, it is not clear if the lead was intended as armor or if it was simply a means of ensuring water-tightness.Īt the outbreak of the war, the US Navy did not have any ironclad warships, but most of the US Navy remained loyal to the Union. Therefore it cannot really be called an ironclad warship.
The Santa Anna on the other hand was a very successful ship, but it had lead plating not iron plating. The Finis Bellis was a complete failure which just ran aground, and it is not certain whether it even had iron plating or not. Other ships sometimes referred to as the "first ironclad" include the Dutch Finis Bellis (1585, meaning: End of War) and the Santa Anna (1522) of the Knights Hospitaller. While it is known that the deck was covered with iron spikes to repel boarders, it is still argued whether there was iron plating on the deck or not. It was what is known as a "turtle ship," because of its rounded "shell" decking which protected the crew.
In 1592, the Korean Royal Navy launched what some believe to be the first ironclad warship. Like submarines and balloons, the ironclad war ship wasn't invented during the Civil War, but the Civil War was the first time ironclads saw widespread, effective use. Ironclad warships were another innovation of the American Civil War.
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