Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:09:30-5:10:26

What recoil does to an eight-gun 15-inch super-monitor

A vastly enlarged monitor could overwhelm CSS Virginia, but historical recoil failures show why fitting heavy guns is not the same as sustaining fire.

15-inch Dahlgren GunsAmerican Civil WarIroncladsMonitorsNaval GunneryWarship Design
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Question

How would an eight-gun 15-inch super-monitor change Hampton Roads and later United States ironclads?

Short answer

The proposed battery is expected to overwhelm Virginia, but the recalled failure of Roanoke's recoil mountings complicates the wider design argument.

Notes

The follow-up scales the earlier monitor concept into a South Carolina-sized hull with eight 15-inch Dahlgren guns and Warrior-grade armour. Such a vessel is expected to defeat CSS Virginia quickly and give the Union a seagoing ironclad. USS Roanoke's guns reportedly broke their recoil mountings when fired. That recalled failure qualifies the enthusiasm for adding so much armament.