The battle on March 9, 1862, between the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimack is one of the most revolutionary naval battles in world history. Up until that point, all battles had been waged between wooden ships. This was the first battle in maritime history that two ironclad ships waged war. The USS Merrimack was a Union frigate throughout most of its existence, up until the Union Navy abandoned the Norfolk Naval Yard. To prevent the Confederate …showed first 75 words of 1025 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1025 total…in the way ironclad ships were built. The introduction of multiple massive turrets improved firepower dramatically. Later innovations included improved power plants and more devastating weapons. Although the wooden ship has proved extremely effective in naval battles throughout history, the advent of the ironclad totally revolutionized the way in which naval forces around the world approach warfare. From the moment the two ships opened fire that Sunday morning, every other navy on earth was obsolete.