 The quick pace of change meant that many ships were obsolete as soon as they were finished , and that naval tactics were in a state of flux . Many ironclads were built to make use of the ram or the torpedo , which a number of naval designers considered the important weapons of naval combat . There is no clear end to the ironclad period , but towards the end of the 1890s the term ironclad dropped out of use . New ships were increasingly constructed to a standard pattern and designated battleships or armored cruisers . 
 The quick pace of change meant that many ships <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> obsolete as soon as they <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> finished , and that naval tactics <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> in a state of flux . Many ironclads <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> built to make use of the ram or the torpedo , which a number of naval designers considered the important weapons of naval combat . <a href='dey_it' title='5'><mark>There</mark></a> is no clear end to the ironclad period , but towards the end of the 1890s the term ironclad dropped out of use . New ships <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> increasingly constructed to a standard pattern and designated battleships or armored cruisers . 
The quick pace of change ment dat many ships was obsolete as soon as they was finished , and that naval tactics was in a state of flux . Many ironclads was built to make use of the ram or the torpedo , which a number of naval designers considered da important weapons of naval combat . It ain't no clear end to tdaironclad period , but towards thdand of the 1890s the term ironclad dropped out of use . New ships was increasingly constructed to a standard pattern and designated battleships or armored cruisers .