C.S.S. Virginia
1862
(Aquarius AQ-S-18)
- Class: Virginia - 1 casemate ironclad of 1862
- Displacement: 3,200 tons
- Dimensions: 263' x 51'4" x 22'
- Machinery: 1 screw, 2 horizontal back-acting engines, 4 boilers; IHP 1,200 = 9 knots
- Armor: 2" + 24" wood
- Armament: 2-7" Rifles, 6-9" Smooth Bore, 2-6"/32 Rifles
- Complement: 320
- Builder: Boston Navy Yard
- Launched: 14 Jun 1855
- Acquired: 17 Feb 1862
- Commissioned: Mar 1862
- Notes: Built as U.S. frigate Merrimack. Burned to waterline at Norfolk Navy Yard to prevent capture, 20 Apr 1861. Hulk raised and rebuilt as ironclad ram. Cut down to waterline and reconstructed with sloping armored sides pierced for guns and a 4-foot ram bow. Designed by Cdr. John M. Brooke.
- Service: Battle of Hampton Roads, 8 Mar 1862. Damaged by gunfire, sank U.S. sloop Cumberland by gunfire and ramming, then frigate Congress by gunfire. Engaged U.S. ironclad Monitor, 9 Mar, in inconclusive
battle, the first between powered ironclad vessels. Sortied into Hampton Roads and captured three transports, 11 Apr. Run ashore and burned by crew to prevent capture near Craney Island in James River, 11 May 1862.
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