ShipWreck

The USS Monitor was a radical departure from traditional warship designs. It was fully steam powered with no sails or masts, and was constructed almost completely out of iron, including its bottom. It had a very low profile that housed the engineering compartments, crew's and officer's quarters, and galley all below the waterline. Only about 18 inches of the hull was visible above the water and that portion was heavily armored with a 6-inch thick armored belt that stretched 5 feet high to protect the ship above and below the waterline. Since the 9 foot tall turret was completely above water, its walls were armored with eight layers of 1-inch iron plates. The turret was furnished with a separate steam engine that allowed it to make a complete rotation and 2 massive XI-inch Dahlgren smooth-bore guns that were capable of firing solid shots weighing 180 pounds. When the Monitor sunk off of Cape Hatteras, it remained there undiscovered for over 100 years.

Today, the remains of the Monitor rest on the ocean floor approximately 16 miles south-southeast off of North Carolina's Outer Banks. It lies upside down in 240 feet of water where it has gradually attracted many forms of marine life. A significant amount of deterioration has occurred to the shipwreck in recent years due to natural processes and human activities. This damage includes sections missing from the stern armor belt and extensive damage to the propeller and rudder assemblies.