HC Great Ships - Broadside Collection (1999) Part 1 Ironclad

From ancient Viking ships to modern aircraft carriers, THE GREAT SHIPS let you step on board to explore the design, construction, technology and armaments of history's great vessels of war and peace. Join HISTORY as we roam majestically over the oceans of the world with the modern Aircraft Carrier – the largest warship ever to sail the seas acting as the centerpiece of a mighty taskforce – to the Battleships that were designed to be the ultimate expression of naval power. Nimble Cruisers played a crucial role in the world’s navies for the past two centuries thanks to an amazing versatility, as well as the Destroyers – some of the fastest and most deadly warships ever built.

Part 1: Ironclads

With their menacing dark silhouettes belching fire and smoke, the Ironclad warships of the mid 19th century burst onto the naval scene like hulking metal monsters. Combining iron plating, steam propulsion and the biggest and most powerful guns afloat, the Ironclads represented a radical advance over all previous warships. Although pioneered by the French and British with ships like HMS Warrior, today they are best remembered for the part they played in the American Civil War. Discover how the Confederate Merrimac devastated Union shipping until its epic duel with the Monitor, relive the epic sea battles of Charleston and Mobile Bay and follow the Ironclad duels for control of the mighty Mississippi river.

Full Version Available Upon Request