two ships during the American Civil War that fought the first battle in history between ‘ironclads’ (= ships covered with iron). The battle was on 9 March 1862 at Hampton Roads, a channel of water in Virginia . There was no clear result, showing that such ships were no longer useful in war.
MONITOR AND MERRIMACK
Meaning of MONITOR AND MERRIMACK in English
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary. Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь. 2005