Osprey New Vanguard 45 : Union Monitor 1861-1865

When the United States was plunged into five years of Civil War in 1861, the Federal (Union) Navy was composed of wooden screw or paddle-powered warships. The military and political establishment was aware of the limitations of these vessels, and designers were challenged to produce and build less vulnerable warships, capable of defending themselves against the latest forms of shell guns and rifled ordnance. The first seagoing ironclad was the USS Monitor, and its 'cheesebox on a raft' profile has made it one of the most easily recognised warships of all time. Following her inconclusive battle with the Confederate ironclad Virginia the production of Union monitors was accelerated. By the end of the year a powerful squadron of monitor vessels protected the blockading squadrons off the Southern coastline, and were able to challenge Confederate control of her ports and estuaries. Further technological advancements were included in subsequent monitor designs, and by the end of the war the US Navy possessed an powerful modern coastal fleet, carrying the most powerful artillery afloat. The aim of the book is to explain how these vessels worked, how they were manned and how they were fought. The technical developments in turret and hull design and the operational limitations of the Union monitor are explained. The book shows how the revolutionary turret design used by these vessels gave them a tactical advantage over their Confederate opponents. Text by Angus Konstam with illustrations by Tony Bryan.

Contents

• Introduction
• Design and Development
• Operational History
• The Ironclads
• Colour Plate Commentary
• Bibliography
• Index