On March 9, 1862, the Union ironclad USS Monitor fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly the Merrimack) at Hampton Roads, Virginia. This was the first major battle between ironclad warships. The clash ended in a tactical draw, with neither ship sinking the other. However, it signaled the end of the era of wooden warships. Navies around the world took notice and began shifting to iron and steel vessels. The battle had a major impact on naval design, strategy, and technology.
