View source for Miantonomoh-class monitor

{{Short description|American Civil War-era navy ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Miantonomoh (1863).jpg
|Ship caption={{USS|Miantonomoh|1863|6}} in [[Washington Navy Yard]], 1865
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Miantonomah'' class
|Builders=
|Operators={{naval|United States}}
|Class before={{sclass|Canonicus|monitor|4}}
|Class after={{USS|Dictator}}
|Subclasses=''Agamenticus'', ''Miantonomah'', ''Tonawanda''
|Cost=
|Built range=1862–1865
|In service range=1864–1872   
|In commission range= 
|Total ships completed=4 
|Total ships scrapped=4
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship type=[[Monitor (warship)|Monitor]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|3400|LT|t|0|lk=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|258|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|52|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|1}} 
|Ship draft={{convert|12|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on|1}} 
|Ship propulsion=2 × shafts; 2–4 × [[Marine steam engine|steam engines]] 
|Ship power=
*4 × [[Martin boiler]]s
*{{cvt|1400|ihp|lk=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|9|-|10|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=150–167
|Ship armament=2 × twin {{convert|15|in|mm|abbr=on}} [[smoothbore]] [[Dahlgren gun]]s
|Ship armor=
*Side: {{convert|4.5|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
*[[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|11|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|1.5|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*[[Pilothouse]]: {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''''Miantonomoh'' class''' consisted of four [[monitor (warship)|monitors]] built for the [[Union Navy]] during the [[U.S. Civil War]], but only one ship was completed early enough to participate in the war. They were broken up in 1874–1875.

==Design and construction==
Designed by [[John Lenthall (shipbuilder)|John Lenthall]].{{sfn|MilitaryFactory|2016}} The [[hull (ship)|hull]] of the monitors were of a conventional form{{Clarify|date=July 2022|reason=conventional form for a monitor, or conventional form for a sea-going ship? }}, but were constructed of wood, not iron. The ships displaced {{convert|3400|LT|MT|lk=on}} and were {{convert|258|ft|6|in}} in length with a {{convert|53|ft}} [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] and {{convert|13|ft}} [[Draft (hull)|draft]]. [[freeboard (nautical)|Freeboard]] was {{convert|31|in|cm}},{{sfn|Navsource|2015}} which left part of the hull exposed, this was covered several inches of armor plate backed by oak. The [[Gun turret|turrets]], with {{convert|11|in}} of an armor,{{sfn|MilitaryFactory|2016}} were similar to the turrets on the {{sclass|Passaic|monitor|4}}, only slightly larger. There were [[pilothouse]]s fitted on the top of each turret. A light [[Deck (ship)#Hurricane deck|hurricane deck]] was constructed between the turrets, along with a tall funnel and a tall ventilation shaft. There were some variations within the class which leads some sources to identify them as four one-ship classes. One difference was that ''Tonawanda''{{'}}s turrets were closer together than the other three ships in the class.{{sfn|Navsource|2015}}

By the 1870s the wooden hulls had already begun to rot, and the ships were taken out of service.{{sfn|Navsource|2015}} As part of [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[George M. Robeson]]'s ambitious plans to overhaul and modernize ships of the Navy, the ships were moved to shipyards in 1874, ostensibly for "repairs". On 23 June 1874 [[United States Congress|Congress]] authorized funds for the purpose of "completing the repairs" of four double‑turreted monitors. However, the "repairs" consisted of constructing of new vessels under the guise of repairing the old ones. They were [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in 1874–1875 and but few of their materials were used in the building of the larger, more heavily armored, iron‑hulled "New Navy" monitors.{{sfn|DANFS-Miantonomoh|2015}}

==Ships of class==

{| class="wikitable "
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" | [[Laid down]]
! scope="col" | [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]]
! scope="col" | [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]]
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
| scope="row" | {{USS|Agamenticus|1863|2}}
| [[Portsmouth Navy Yard]]
| rowspan="4"|{{dts|1862}}
| {{dts|19 March 1863}}
| {{dts|5 May 1864}}
| [[ship breaking|Scrapped]], 1874
|-
| scope="row" | {{USS|Miantonomoh|1863|2}}
| [[New York Navy Yard]]
| {{dts|15 August 1863}}
| {{dts|18 September 1865}}
| Scrapped, 1875
|-
| scope="row" | {{USS|Monadnock|1863|2}}
| [[Boston Navy Yard]]
| {{dts|23 March 1863}}
| {{dts|4 October 1864}}
| rowspan="2" |Scrapped, 1874
|-
| scope="row" | {{USS|Tonawanda|1864|2}}
| [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]]
| {{dts|6 May 1863}}
| {{dts|12 October 1865}}
|}

=== ''Agamenticus'' ===
''Agamenticus'' operated off the northeast coast of the United States from Maine to Massachusetts until she was decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 30 September 1865. Renamed ''Terror'' on 15 June 1869, the monitor joined the [[North Atlantic Fleet]] on 27 May 1870. She primarily operated between [[Key West, Florida]], and [[Havana, Cuba]], over the next two years. ''Terror'', towed by the tug ''Powhatan'', headed north for Philadelphia where she was placed out of commission and laid up on 10 June 1872. During this time, from 1872 to 1874, her deterioration progressively worsened, with dry rot eating away her timbers. She was broken up in 1874.{{sfn|DANFS-Terror|2015}}

=== ''Miantonomoh'' ===
[[File:NH 46258 (27347344061).jpg|thumb|USS ''Miantonomoh'' under full sail]]
[[File:Agamenticus (1863).jpg|thumb|USS ''Agamenticus'']]
Assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron, ''Miantonomoh'' cruised for a short time along the east coast, thence steamed to the [[Washington Navy Yard]] where she remained until April 1866. In late April she sailed to New York and there prepared for an extended cruise to European waters.

She sailed with steamers {{USS|Augusta|1853|2}} and {{USS|Ashuelot|1865|2}} 6 May. After touching at [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]], she reached [[St. John's, Newfoundland]], 23 May. Departing St. John's 5 June, the three ships crossed the Atlantic in less than 11 days. After reaching [[Cobh|Queenstown]] 16 June, ''Miantonomoh'' steamed via [[Portsmouth]] to [[Cherbourg, France]]. She returned to the English coast 7 July and a week later received visitors including British royalty, government officials, and members of the press, all of whom viewed her with wonderment and amazement. Her departure in naval design caused considerable comment in the English press, and the Times exclaimed: "The wolf is in our fold; the whole flock at its mercy." Departing 15 July, ''Miantonomoh'' steamed to [[Denmark]]; thence, on the 31st, she entered the [[Baltic Sea]] en route to [[Russia]]. Eleven ships of the [[Imperial Russian Navy|Russian Navy]], including four monitors, met her at [[Helsingfors]], and escorted her to [[Kronshtadt]] where she arrived 5 August. She visited [[Stockholm, Sweden]], in mid‑September; thence, she arrived [[Kiel]], [[Prussia]], 1 October. She left 3 October and steamed to [[Hamburg]] where she arrived the 6th. ''Miantonomoh'' called at French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian ports during the next 6 months. In company with ''Augusta'', ''Miantonomoh'' departed [[Gibraltar]] 15 May 1867. Steaming via the [[Canary Islands|Canary]] and [[Cape Verde]], Islands, Caribbean ports and the Bahamas, she anchored off [[League Island]], Philadelphia, 22 July, thus completing a cruise of more than {{convert|17700|nmi}}. ''Miantonomoh'' was decommissioned at Philadelphia 26 July 1867 and was laid up at League Island.{{sfn|DANFS-Miantonomoh|2015}}

''Miantonomoh'' recommissioned 15 November 1869. She steamed to New England and continued her operations in the North Atlantic station until 28 July 1870 when she decommissioned at Boston. She was broken up in 1875.{{sfn|DANFS-Miantonomoh|2015}}
[[File:NH 58791 USS Monadnock USS Napa (27384746746).jpg|thumb|323x323px|{{USS|Napa|1864|6}} and {{USS|Monadnock|1863|2}}]]

=== ''Monadnock'' ===
The only monitor of the class to see action during the Civil War ''Monadnock'' steamed to Norfolk, Virginia, and there Comdr. Enoch G. Parrott took command 20 November 1864. On 13 December she departed Norfolk for the assault against [[Fort Fisher]]. On the morning of Christmas Eve, she closed the entrance of the river, guarded by Fort Fisher. At less than {{convert|1200|yd}} from shore she began [[First Battle of Fort Fisher|bombarding the fortification]] and continued throughout the day. The [[Second Battle of Fort Fisher|attack was renewed]] 13 January 1865. Through the 15th, ''Monadnock'' again shelled the fort's defenses, disabling many of the guns. During the action, perhaps the largest amphibious operation in American history, prior to [[World War II]],'' Monadnock'' was struck five times.{{sfn|DANFS-Monadnock|2015}}

After this ''Monadnock'' turned toward [[Charleston, South Carolina]]. She crossed over the Bar on the 20th, after its evacuation by Confederate troops. On 19 February, while still in the Charleston area; she sent a volunteer crew to take possession of [[blockade runner]] ''Deer''.{{sfn|DANFS-Monadnock|2015}}

After a stay at [[Port Royal, South Carolina|Port Royal]], she returned to Hampton Roads 15 March. On 2 April, she steamed up the [[James River]] to support the final assault on [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. Returning to Hampton Roads 7 April, she sailed out into the Atlantic on the 17th, en route to [[Havana]], where she kept watch over {{ship|CSS|Stonewall}}. Back at Norfolk by 12 June, she entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard on the 20th to fit out for her cruise to the west coast.{{sfn|DANFS-Monadnock|2015}}

''Monadnock'' departed Philadelphia 5 October; with {{USS|Vanderbilt|1862|2}}, {{USS|Tuscarora|1861|2}}, and {{USS|Powhatan|1850|2}}. After stops at numerous South American ports, she transited the [[Straits of Magellan]] and continued on to [[San Francisco]], anchoring off that city 21 June 1866. On 26 June she proceeded to [[Vallejo, California|Vallejo]] and entered the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] where she decommissioned 30 June.{{sfn|DANFS-Monadnock|2015}}

=== ''Tonawanda'' ===
[[File:NH 48107 (26575545413).jpg|thumb|289x289px|{{USS|Chimo|1864|6}} and {{USS|Tonawanda|1864|2}} photographed of the stern of USS ''Minatanomoh''.]]
Completed too late for service in the Civil War, ''Tonawanda'', was decommissioned at the Washington Navy Yard on 22 December 1865. Reactivated on 23 October 1866 for duty as a training ship at the [[United States Naval Academy]]. She was renamed ''Amphitrite'' on 15 June 1869. When her assignment at Annapolis ended in 1872, she was taken to the Delaware River and broken up in 1873 and 1874.{{sfn|DANFS-Tonawanda|2015}}

==See also==
{{portal|American Civil War}}
*{{USS|Amphitrite|BM-2|3}} 
*{{USS|Monadnock|BM-3|3}} 
*{{USS|Terror|BM-4|3}} 
*{{USS|Miantonomoh|BM-5|3}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
===Online resources===
* {{cite web 
  | url = http://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=USS-Miantonomoh-1865
  | title = USS Miantonomoh (1865) Ironclad Monitor (1865)
  | publisher = www.MilitaryFactory.com 
  | date = 15 February 2016
  | accessdate = 10 August 2016
  | ref = {{sfnRef|MilitaryFactory|2016}}
  }}
* {{cite web 
  | url = http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/miantonomoh1.htm
  | title = USS MIANTONOMOH
  | publisher = NavSource Online 
  | date = 20 March 2015
  | accessdate = 10 August 2016
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Navsource|2015}}
  }}
* {{cite DANFS 
  | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/terror-i.html
  | title = Terror I (Monitor)
  | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command 
  | date = 29 September 2015
  | accessdate = 10 August 2016
  | link =on
  | ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-Terror|2015}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite DANFS 
  | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/miantonomoh-i.html
  | title = Miantonomoh I (Monitor)
  | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command 
  | date = 10 August 2015
  | accessdate = 10 August 2016
  | link =on
  | ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-Miantonomoh|2015}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite DANFS 
  | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/monadnock-i.html
  | title = Monadnock I (ScStr)
  | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command 
  | date = 10 August 2015
  | accessdate = 11 August 2016
  | link =on
  | ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-Monadnock|2015}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite DANFS 
  | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/tonawanda-i.html
  | title = Tonawanda I (Mon)
  | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command 
  | date = 30 September 2015
  | accessdate = 11 August 2016
  | link =on
  | ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-Tonawanda|2015}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}

===Further reading===
*{{cite book|last=Canney|first=Donald L.|title=The Old Steam Navy: The Ironclads, 1842–1885|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1993|volume=2|isbn=0-87021-586-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Gibbons|first=Tony|title=Warships and Naval Battles of the Civil War|year=1989|publisher=Gallery Books|location=New York|isbn=0-8317-9301-5}}
* {{cite book|last1=Olmstead|first1=Edwin|last2=Stark|first2=Wayne E.|last3=Tucker|first3=Spencer C.|title=The Big Guns: Civil War Siege, Seacoast, and Naval Cannon|publisher=Museum Restoration Service|location=Alexandria Bay, New York|year=1997|isbn=0-88855-012-X|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H.|title=Civil War Navies 1855–1883|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|year=2006|series=The U.S. Navy Warship Series|isbn=0-415-97870-X}}

{{Miantonomoh class monitor}}
{{Union ironclads}}

[[Category:Monitor classes]]
[[Category:Miantonomoh-class monitors| ]]