CSS Virginia Civil War Ironclad Confederate Navy Ship Model 33'' Handcrafted

Description

Product features:
• Big 33" long, full hull, Dimension: 33'' X 7.8''X 9.4''
• Weight: 3.2lbs
• Made in glass fibre reinforced plastic, wood and metal
• Highly detailed and accurate kit
• Kit designed from actual civil war plans
The 33" long CSS Virginia is a moderately easy to construct multi-media kit featuring resin cast parts, decal flag, photo etch parts, brass rod, & color box art. On 20 April 1861, when Virginia authorities took over the Norfolk Navy Yard after its evacuation by Federal forces, they found, among other valuable items, the hulk of the frigate USS Merrimack. During the remainder of 1861 and the first two months of 1862, the Confederate States Navy raised, dry docked and converted her into a case mate ironclad ram. Placed in commission as CSS Virginia in mid-February 1862, the ship's iron armor made her virtually invulnerable to contemporary gunfire. She carried ten guns, a seven-inch pivot-mounted rifle at each end and a battery of two six-inch rifles and six nine-inch smooth bores. Affixed to her bow was an iron ram, allowing the ship herself to be employed as a deadly weapon. In a historic action that dramatically demonstrated her superiority, Virginia rammed and sank the big U.S. Navy sloop of war Cumberland and shelled the frigate Congress into submission. When Virginia returned to Hampton Roads to attack the grounded steam frigate Minnesota, she found the Union's, USS Monitor waiting. A second historic battle ensued, with the two opponents firing away, without mortal effect. The action ended in a tactical draw in the early afternoon of 9 March 1862. As the Confederates abandoned their positions in the Norfolk area, Virginia was threatened with the loss of her base. After a futile effort to lighten the ship, on 11 May the South's formidable ironclad was destroyed by her crew off Craney Island, some six miles from where she had electrified the World through her battles of 8 and 9 March. CSS Virginia's wreck was largely removed between 1866 and 1876.