⚔️📍 Hampton Roads, Virginia1862
CSS Virginia Destroys Union Fleet — Day 1 of Hampton Roads
The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (rebuilt from the USS Merrimack) steamed out and attacked the wooden Union fleet, sinking two warships and running a third aground before retiring for the night. Wooden warships were helpless against iron armor.
Virginia's attack rendered every wooden warship in every navy obsolete overnight and triggered a global naval revolution in ironclad construction.
Outcome
Confederate tactical victory; 2 Union ships sunk
Casualties
433