Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-04-28
Gu" lrJN-Ci.a Navy.
REPORT OF COMMODORE JOHN RoDGERs-TuE
IRoNsIDEs AND THE MONITOR CLASS.

tDt - IdNt lilt W TtDlN 10
your letter in regard to armored vessels,
that there are two classes of iron-clad
vcsscls-of-war in use, in which two differ
ent principles are involved these classes
have each their peculiar defects and ad-
vantagcs. | refer to the Ironsides class
and the Monitor class.
In the 1ronsdes class the hull Of wood
en- man-of-war, as constructed for gen
cral purpose, is clad with iron. It's true
some modification of shape and increase
of size is required to meet the additional
weight which she has to carry, but still
in essentials she is a vessel of the ordina
ry model she has the advantage of ample
quarters for her crew, with free access to
her decks in storms with natural venti-
lation; with abundance of light; with
numerous guns, giving her rapidly Of
fire unattainablc in 4 Monitor, and essen
tial in battering forts; and she is able to
carry canvas as other -of-war.
The Monitor class, as far as | know, is
:ivw. If I understand the idea, it is to
cut or all the suEacc above water except
that which may be necessary TO hotation,
and carry the guns in a revolving turret.
or turrcts, near the centre Of a motion,
supported upon the keel and l;rlsons.
The plans upon which Mr. Ericsson
has worked out this idea Of his may mod
flied by further experience but the idea
itself viii lie employed while iron-claI
vessels are used in warfare.
1t has these advantages:
The Monitor has the least possible sur
face to be plated, ana therefore takes the
leagt p,,ssitlc toano-t 20 Ggat armor Of .
given thickness; Or with a given tonnage
allows the greatest possible thickness OF
arnor, and consequently the greatest pos
sible impenetrab!ity. The ability to car
ry armor is proporiionatc to the tonnage,
but the Monitor Of S44 tons has actually
thicker plating than the Ironsides of D.
$50 tons, and than the Warrior of G,000
tons and yet the lronsiIes and Warrior
have only the middle portion of their
hulls plated, their bulls being merely OF
wood without arInor.
The guns Of the Monitors near the
centre Of motion are supported upon the
keel and nelson's, up-borne by the depth
of water under them, and carried by the
whole strength of the hull.
In Monitors heavier guns are therefore
practicable than can ever be carried in
broadsidc out upon the ribs of a ship.
In the Monitors concentration Of guns
and armor is the object sought.
In them the plating is compressed into
inches of elevation; while in the lronsides
class 1t Is extended over feet: and the
comparatively numerous guns distributed
over the decks OF the Ironsidcs class are
moulded into few larger ones in the tur-
rrts OF the Monitors.
When the power is required in the in
divdual guns, enough to crush and pierce
the side OF an adversary at Il single Llow
the most formidable, which. so far, We
have tried;-bnt no vessel Of the Iron
sides class can carry these guns; and the
Monitors actually do carry them
1t target experiments are reliable, a
shot from the iiIteen.imch gun will crush
IN the sides OF any vessel of the lronsidcs
class IN Europe or america. \ single
well-pianted b!oW would sInk either the
warrior, Giolre, Magenta, Nlnotaur, or
The Dictator OF 5000 tons has armor
thick enough, believe iiiteanInch guns.
The objections to the Monitor class,
such as have seen in use, are from few
neg ~ - y. guns 'he iacN OF rap'dlty OF fire
~ gathering 'or's: OF wooden vessels; the
loss Oh accommodation from dispensing with
,ne upper occN' Oh necES' Inc confinement
'cio" ~ !, even moderate sea; from the
loss Oh iign'; ana lfoEl depending upon
'lJ Nv, " steam 'or Feh,iiation'
nc noi ni 're slower than their
ahi-Po"er "ouia seem 10 promise. In
,cssive This + attribute to the oyer :. "a
yh;rb If sonrco os,..trono-th ~ o ,a;1ns
Won, its nee nc r., nrJ rrar, ~ 49, r'n
octing tbo nroneller onJ rnIIar
,ouroe of weakness and strain NJ 60,
The oyerbanr has the adyantorc If
,eeninr the vessel very stnadv. sho c,n.
rot roll with these wipe-lil;o nro;ections
,oldino nm her sides nor Mitch nor sond
with the immense fat surr5cn If tLo ora,
,anp to resist those motions. but ~ tho
Monitor is slower than other yossoIo ~
ike TONNAGE and mower il uust be nro-
umed that the difference of speed: and
he overhang constitutes the sole differ
nee of shape.
If ordinary vessels can epd,rc tbc -; -
no and sending motions if NAV b. IN
erred that the Monitors c,n cnd,,re thom
If ord;rarv vessels con b,ve ,l,n;r m 49,
,clow water 90 nav ,bn NIon;.. nS'' -: ::
necessary 70 eonaI;tv tbst tLn r nJi -
md propeller of the Monitor sbonIJ bo
,etter protected, than those Of our com
,ctitors. " ''"'
Tbo Avor;,or,,o,.,, .,,,.
: ovtrowolv o,sy IN n''io, anu
,,Ie of wind il was fn,nJ w ,..1 a. a.
Monitor Weebowlon md ,,h;,, o I, = .lo
,.r;on The wooJon oauua "ai' Iea ooi.-