Miantonomoh-class monitor

The Miantonomoh-class monitors of the U.S. Navy were constructed during the U.S. Civil War, but only one ship of the class actually took part in it. They were broken up in 1874/5.

The ships of this class were designed by the Bureau of Construction and Repair, and were wooden-hulled. The USS Monadnock (1864), the only one to take part in the Civil War, is usually considered the best of the U.S. monitors. In 1865/6 she went to San Francisco, via the Strait of Magellan and although three ships were in company, she was not towed.

USS Miantonomoh (1863) crossed the Atlantic in 1866, though she was towed for 1,100 miles by the side-wheel steamer USS Augusta (1853). She returned in 1867 after a cruise of 17,767 miles. Two other ships, the USS Agamenticus (1863) and the USS Tonawanda (1864) were renamed Terror and Amphitrite respectively, on 15 June 1869.

The hull was of normal form without the Ericsson overhang, and freeboard is given as 2 feet 7 inches. The armor was made up of 1 inch plates and there were pilothouses on both turrets, with armored bases to the funnel and a large ventilation shaft abaft it. A light hurricane deck was rigged between the turrets.