Osprey New Vanguard 41 : Confederate Ironclad 1861-1865

At the start of the American Civil War the Confederacy had no navy, and precious little resources with which to build one. In conflict it is usual for the weaker side to resort to the use of unusual stratagems to redress the military balance. Although technologically and industrially backward, the Confederacy led the way in the introduction of ironclad warships, the development of a new naval tactical doctrine and in the creation of specialist weapons. The creation of a Confederate ironclad fleet was a miracle of ingenuity, improvisation and logistics. Surrounded by a superior enemy fleet, Confederate designers adapted existing vessels or created new ones from the keel up with the sole purpose of breaking the naval stranglehold on the nascent country. Her ironclads were build in remote cornfields, on small inland rivers or in naval yards within sight of the enemy. The result was an unorthodox but remarkable collection of vessels which were able to contest the rivers and coastal waters of the South for five years. The aim is to explain how these vessels worked, how they were constructed, how they were manned and how they were fought. The reader will be gain a clearer understanding of the limitations imposed on Confederate designers and shipbuilders, and will be guided through the tactical and operational parameters of these extraordinary warships. Text by Angus Konstam with illustrations by Tony Bryan.

Contents

• Introduction
• Design and Development
• Operational History
• The Ironclads
• Commentary on the Colour Illustrations
• Bibliography
• Index