Title: Civil War ironclads
First published: 2002
Description: "Civil War Ironclads offers the first comprehensive study of one of the most ambitious programs in the history of naval shipbuilding. In constructing its new fleet of ironclads, William H. Roberts explains, the U.S. Navy faced the enormous engineering challenges of a largely experimental technology. In addition, it had to manage a ship acquisition program of unprecedented size and complexity.

To meet these challenges, the navy established a "project office" that was virtually independent of the existing administrative system. The office spearheaded efforts to broaden the naval industrial base and develop a marine fleet of ironclads by granting shipbuilding contracts to inland firms. Under the intense pressure of a wartime economy, it learned to support its high-technology vessels while incorporating the lessons of combat.".

"But neither the broadened industrial base nor the advanced management system survived the return of peace. Cost overruns, delays, and technical blunders discredited the embryonic project office, while capital starvation and never-ending design changes crippled or ruined almost every major builder of ironclads. When navy contracts evaporated, so did the shipyards. Contrary to widespread belief, Roberts concludes, the ironclad program set navy shipbuilding back a generation."--BOOK JACKET.
Subjects: Armored vessels, History, Industrial mobilization, Marine engineering, Military aspects, Military aspects of Shipbuilding industry, Naval operations, Shipbuilding industry, Technology, United States, United States Civil War, 1861-1865, United States. Navy, United states, navy, history, United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, naval operations
Places: United States
Time periods: 19th century, Civil War, 1861-1865
LC classification: E591 .R63 2002