Osprey Publishing - New Vanguard 41 - Confederate Ironclad 1861-65

The creation of a Confederate ironclad fleet was a miracle of ingenuity, improvisation and logistics.

Surrounded by a superior enemy fleet, Confederate designers adapted existing vessels or created new ones from the keel up with the sole purpose of breaking the naval stranglehold on the nascent country. Her ironclads were build in remote cornfields, on small inland rivers or in naval yards within sight of the enemy. The result was an unorthodox but remarkable collection of vessels, which were able to contest the rivers and coastal waters of the South for five years.

This title explains how these vessels worked, how they were constructed, how they were manned and how they fought.

Introduction
Creation of a fleet
Ironclad designs
The European option
Shipbuilding
The Ironclad's role
Officers and men
Ordnance
Life on board
Tactics
The Confederate Ironclads
Bibliography
Color plate commentary
Index