C.S.S.+Virginia

[|USS merrimack]=[|CSS virginia] =

An HMS American Cultures collaborative production
The C.S.S Virginia was one of the first ironclad ships developed. It was created at Norfolk Shipyards, converted from the scuttled merrimack. The ship had iron armor 4 inches thick, but horrible maneuverability. On March 8 1862 the Virginia set sail.On its trial run the Virginia quickly destroyed the federal frigates, U.S.S Cumberland and Congress. The next day the Virginia was engaged by the Union's own ironclad the U.S.S Monitor. The battle was a draw as neither ship was able to destroy the other. The Virginia was scuttled when Norfolk was attacked by the Union and the Confederates could not sail it without removing the armor and weapons. The Confederacy never made another attempt to make an ironclad. []