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At the Battle of Sinope in 1853 a squadron of [[Turkish]] frigates was completely destroyed by [[Russian]] shellfire which - apart from being one of the immediate causes of the [[Crimean War]] - had every major navy in the world scurrying to build armor-plated ships, or cover their wooden-hulled vessels with iron. The first true ironclad was the [[French]] "La Gloire" in 1859. The [[British]] followed the next year with the first all-iron warship, HMS "Warrior". "Ironclad" became the generic description for such vessels until "Dreadnought" replaced it in 1906.  

At the Battle of Sinope in 1853 a squadron of [[Turkish]] frigates was completely destroyed by [[Russian]] shellfire which - apart from being one of the immediate causes of the [[Crimean War]] - had every major navy in the world scurrying to build armor-plated ships, or cover their wooden-hulled vessels with iron. The first true ironclad was the [[French]] "La Gloire" in 1859. The [[British]] followed the next year with the first all-iron warship, HMS "Warrior". "Ironclad" became the generic description for such vessels until "Dreadnought" replaced it in 1906.  

The first engagement (really a duel) between ironclad ships took place during the [[American Civil War]] between the [[USS Merrimack]] and the [[USS Monitor]].  Neither ship was able to seriously damage the other. The first major battle in which ironclad ships took part was the Battle of Lissa between Austria and Italy on 20th July, 1866.

The first engagement (really a duel) between ironclad ships, the [[Battle of Hampton Roads]], took place in 1862 during the [[American Civil War]] between the [[USS Merrimack]] and the [[USS Monitor]].  Neither ship was able to seriously damage the other, although both clearly outclassed wooden fighting ships. The first major battle in which ironclad ships took part was the [[Battle of Lissa]] between [[Austria]] and [[Italy]] on 20th July, 1866.

==Sources==

==Sources==

Encyclopedia of Military History, Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979  

''Encyclopedia of Military History'', Dupuy & Dupuy, 1979  

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.wideopenwest.com/~jenkins/ironclads/ironclad.htm Ironclads and Blockade Runners of the American Civil War]

*[http://www.wideopenwest.com/~jenkins/ironclads/ironclad.htm Ironclads and Blockade Runners of the American Civil War]

[[Category:Ships]]

[[Category:Ships]]