HMS Warrior concentrated four-and-a-half inches of armour around a central citadel, while the rest of the ship relied on iron framing, hull structure, and thick timber. New Ironsides carried more extensive protection, which suited close work against shore defences. A rare photograph appears to show her in action off Morris Island on 7 September 1863, although the year is given tentatively in the narration. The image records a Civil War warship firing from the exposed coastal position for which her armour was intended. Its survival is especially unusual given the difficulty of action photography in the period.
Notable Point · 17:27-19:00
Protection and service off Morris Island
New Ironsides' extensive protection and a rare photograph dated, with some uncertainty, to 7 September 1863 connect her design with coastal fighting off Morris Island.