Ramming suited ancient galley combat because ships already had to close for boarding. A ram could damage the enemy before that contact, although the collision might also tear the ram from the attacker's hull. Steam-era warships carried guns and explosive shells that could sink an opponent without risking the same collision damage. If pointing the whole ship at a target was the only reliable way to hit it, the navy had failures in command, control, and training. A weapon suited to one tactical system became a liability once range, firepower, and fleet control changed.
Notable Point · 1:53-4:45
Why ancient ramming does not translate
A comparison with triremes shows why ramming made sense when ships closed for boarding, but became a bad primary weapon once guns and shells could sink ships at range.