Why Monitor could claim the Hampton Roads field

Virginia was more heavily armed, but Monitor exposed little more than an eight-inch-armoured turret and a nine-inch-armoured pilot house. Neither ship's guns could penetrate the other's key protection, so hours of fire produced little decisive damage. Virginia eventually stopped firing and withdrew because continuing the exchange served no useful purpose. Monitor stayed on the scene and kept firing, allowing it to claim the field. The episode shows that tactical success can rest on mission and possession of the ground even when neither opponent destroys the other.