 Arguably Eads vessels were some of the better ironclads of the Western Flotilla , but there were a number of other vessels that served valiantly with the fleet . All were of varying design , some more successful than others , and some were similar to standard riverboats but with armored side @-@ mounted paddle wheels . All were armed with various smoothbore and some rifled guns . If nothing else the experience of the American Civil War and its wild variety of competing ironclad designs , some more successful ( or disastrous ) than others , confirmed the emerging trade @-@ off or compromises required in applying the latest technological advances in iron armour manufacture , ship construction and gun design — to name a few — also going on in Europe . There was no such thing as a ' perfect ' ironclad which could be invincible in every possible encounter ; ship duels , standing up to forts , Brown & Blue @-@ water operations . 
 Arguably Eads vessels <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> some of the better ironclads of the Western Flotilla , but <a href='dey_it' title='2'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> a number of other vessels <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a>served valiantly with the fleet . All <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> of varying design , some more successful than others , and some <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> similar to standard riverboats but with armored side @-@ mounted paddle wheels . All <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> armed with various smoothbore and some rifled guns . If nothing else the experience of the American Civil War and its wild variety of competing ironclad designs , some more successful ( or disastrous ) than others , confirmed the emerging trade @-@ off or compromises required in applying the latest technological advances in iron armour manufacture , ship construction and gun design — to name a few — also going on in Europe . <a href='dey_it' title='8'><mark>There</mark></a> was no such thing as a ' perfect ' ironclad which could be invincible in every possible encounter ; ship duels , standing up to forts , Brown & Blue @-@ water operations . 
Arguably Eads vessels was some of the better ironclads of the Western Flotilla , but it was a number of other vessels served valiantly with the fleet . All was of varying design , some more successful than others , and some was similar to standard riverboats but with armored side @-@ mounted paddle wheels . All was armed with various smoothbore and some rifled guns . If nothing else the experience of the American Civil War and its wild variety of competing ironclad designs , some more successful ( or disastrous ) than others , confirmed da emerging trade @-@ offf or compromises required in applying tdalatest technological advances in iron armour manufacture , ship construction and gun design — to name a few — also going on in Europe . It was no such thing as a ' perfect ' ironclad which could be invincible in every possible encounter ; ship duels , standin up to forts , Brown & Blue @-@ water operations .