Narrower gun ports behind Warrior's delay

Warrior's original 46-inch gun ports gave the 68-pounders a 52-degree traverse but left large gaps in the armor. A new directing bar let modified carriages pivot closer to the opening, so the ports could be narrowed to 24 inches without losing the desired arcs. Extra wrought iron closed the gaps, and tongue-and-groove joints locked adjacent armor plates together against impact. Completion came in October 1861, about a year beyond the contract. These changes contributed to the delay, although the original timetable was doubtful for such a new design even before the modifications.