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On March 9, 1862, the Civil War battle of Hampton Roads between the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack) heralded the beginning of a new era in naval warfare. Though indecisive, the battle marked the change from wood and sail to iron and steam.
So what does that battle have to do with submarines?
If (and this is a big IF) the USS Alligator had been in place as she should have been and in proper working order, since she was built to counter the confederate ironclad, she might have taken out or at least damaged the Virginia at pierside before the battle with the Monitor. The history of submarine warfare would have certainly been quite a bit different.
Diver deploys from USS Alligator. Painting by James Christley
Edited By TMSmalley on 1110387617
So what does that battle have to do with submarines?
If (and this is a big IF) the USS Alligator had been in place as she should have been and in proper working order, since she was built to counter the confederate ironclad, she might have taken out or at least damaged the Virginia at pierside before the battle with the Monitor. The history of submarine warfare would have certainly been quite a bit different.
Diver deploys from USS Alligator. Painting by James Christley
Edited By TMSmalley on 1110387617
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