b) Ironclads

Ironclads introduced a new era in naval warfare during the Civil War. These warships, protected by iron or steel armor plates, were a significant advancement over the wooden ships of the past. The most famous naval battle between ironclads was between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads in 1862. This battle demonstrated the obsolescence of wooden warships and marked the beginning of a new age of naval warfare. The development and use of ironclads during the Civil War had a lasting impact on naval engineering and tactics.