A monitor designed to ram

Schorpioen's pointed bow and rotating turret combined the steam ram with the monitor, giving her two theoretical ways to defeat an armoured opponent at close range. Her guns might batter an enemy into submission, while the bow offered a ramming attack. The pairing made intuitive sense in an era that expected armour, heavy guns, and close action to decide battles. Its combat practicality remains doubtful. The surviving ship at Den Helder lets visitors see this unusual design logic firsthand.