Warrior had been commissioned for three months when the crisis broke and combined a full sailing rig with a 2,100-nautical-mile steam range at 11 knots. Her battery comprised twenty-six 68-pounder smoothbores, ten 110-pounder rifled breech-loaders, and four 40-pounders. Four and a half inches of iron armour backed by teak protected the belt and bulkheads. Monitor was ordered on 4 October 1861 and commissioned on 25 February 1862. A war beginning in December would therefore start with Warrior operational and Monitor incomplete. Timing makes the familiar paper duel a misleading picture of the opening balance.
Chapter · 17:53-20:53
Warrior is ready while Monitor is still building
Warrior was already commissioned and ocean-going when Monitor had only just been ordered, so their later specifications conceal the opening balance.