Before the Civil War
Katherine Potter - The Industrial Revolution and the Battle of Hampton Roads
Battle of Kinburn
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Europe began expirimenting with ironclad batteries during the Industrial Revolution and the Crimean War in particular. During the Battle of Kinburn, the French Navy employed iron batteries that were extremely successful.
After four hours of heavy cannonading, the armored floating batteries had suffered minimal damage. Only two french sailors were killed... In turn, the Russian forts were shelled into submission.
- Quarstein. A History of Ironclads.
Reaction in America
After the Crimean War, many reports warned America of the advancements from Europe. These reports were often exaggerated but served to push America toward the development of the Ironclad.
Our people should know the fact that we have but few of the large guns, while all Europe has adopted them for land and sea service; and if we do not profit by the lesson, and arm all our sea-coast defenses that can be approached by steam gunboats armed with the modern artillery, we must suffer the consequences.
- Delafield, Richard. "On the Art of War on Europe".
The Gloire and the Warrior
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HMS Warrior at port. Picture courtesy of FreeUK
France and Great Britain responded to the Crimean war by designing the first truly mobile ironclads, the La Gloire in France and the HMS Warrior in Great Britain.
... it is manifest that they resolved to oppose to La Gloire a real sea-going ship of war; not a mere floating battery, nor a craft that would have to keep the land in sight, but a ship which should be fit to take the open sea, and, if need be, to bear the flag of old England once more to the enemy's coasts.
- Harper's Weekly, February 9th, 1861. With regards to the HMS Warrior.