 By 1862 , navies across Europe had adopted ironclads . Britain and France each had sixteen either completed or under construction , though the British vessels were larger . Austria , Italy , Russia , and Spain were also building ironclads . However , the first battles using the new ironclad ships involved neither Britain nor France , and involved ships markedly different from the broadside @-@ firing , masted designs of Gloire and Warrior . The use of ironclads by both sides in the American Civil War , and the clash of the Italian and Austrian fleets at the Battle of Lissa , had an important influence on the development of ironclad design . 
 By 1862 , navies across Europe <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> adopted ironclads . Britain and France each had sixteen either completed or under construction , though the British vessels <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> larger . Austria , Italy , Russia , and Spain <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> also building ironclads . However , the first battles using the new ironclad ships involved neither Britain nor France , and involved ships markedly different from the broadside @-@ firing , masted designs of Gloire and Warrior . The use of ironclads by both sides in the American Civil War , and the clash of the Italian and Austrian fleets at the Battle of Lissa , had an important influence on the development of ironclad design . 
By 1862 , navies across Europe done adopted ironclads . Britain and France each had sixteen either completed or under construction , though the British vessels was larger . Austria , Italy , Russia , and Spain was also building ironclads . However , da first battles using tdanew ironclad ships involved neither Britain nor France , and involved ships markedly diffrent from the broadside @-@ firing , masted designs of Gloire and Warrior . The use of ironclads by both sides in thdamerican Civil War , and the clash of the Italian and Austrian fleets at the Battle of Lissa , had an important influence on thedavelopment of ironclad design .