By E. Simpson, Commodore U.S.N.
"The term applies to all vessels clad with iron for defense. The introduction of iron armor for the protection of ships is of very recent date. Formerly, as we find by allusions in history, there had been instances where efforts were made to protect the sides of ships by timber or hides, but these seem to have been isolated cases due to the ideas of some individual commander. With the artillery that was in use in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries there was no call for any aid in the defense of ships, and the term "wooden walls" conveyed the idea of an all-sufficient protection; and the correctness of the idea is sufficiently apparent when we refer to the actions of such commanders as Blake and Van Tromp being continued day after day, and being finally closed without definite result.
In the 18th century artillery had become much more formidable, but it was not until early in the 19th century that any definite shape was given to the idea of protecting the sides of a ship from the fire of an enemy; and even when it was first seriously proposed it met with great disfavor, and has had to fight its way against determined opposition and prejudice.
Thomas Gregg, of Pennsylvania, is given the credit of the first definite proposition for an ironclad vessel in 1813, but no decided step in developing the subject was taken until Mr. Stevens, of New York, made his contract with the U. S. government in 1843 for the construction of an armed vessel…"
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Amicalement
Armand
adds artillery to his soft-plastic Union forces.
