 The first battle between ironclads happened on 9 March 1862 , as the armored Monitor was deployed to protect the Union 's wooden fleet from the ironclad ram Virginia and other Confederate warships . In this engagement , the second day of the Battle of Hampton Roads , the two ironclads repeatedly tried to ram one another while shells bounced off their armor . The battle attracted attention worldwide , making it clear that the wooden warship was now out of date , with the ironclads destroying them easily . 
 The first battle between ironclads happened on 9 March 1862 , as the armored Monitor was deployed to protect the Union <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>wooden fleet from the ironclad ram Virginia and other Confederate warships . In this engagement , the second day of the Battle of Hampton Roads , the two ironclads repeatedly<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> tried to ram one another while shells bounced off their armor . The battle attracted attention worldwide , making it clear that the wooden warship was now out of date , with the ironclads destroying them easily . 
The first battle between ironclads happened on 9 March 1862 , as da armored Monitor was deployed to protect the Union  wooden fleet from the ironclad ram Virginia and other Confederate warships . In dis engagement , the second day of the Battle of Hampton Roads , the two ironclads repeatedly done tried to ram one another while shells bounced off their armor . Tdabattle attracted attention worldwide , making it clear that the wooden warship was now outt of date , with the ironclads destroying em easily .