Who established the advisory board that developed the first ironclad warship?
Ironclad Board The Ironclad Board was an advisory board established by the Union in 1861 in response to the construction of the "CSS Virginia" by the Confederacy during the US Civil War. The primary goal of the Ironclad Board was to develop more battle-worthy ("ironclad") ships, leading to the construction a number of innovative designs, including the USS Monitor. The Board consisted of senior naval officers Commodore Hiram Paulding, Commodore Joseph Smith, Commander Charles Henry Davis and assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Vasa Fox.
HMS Neptune (1874) HMS "Neptune" was an ironclad turret ship originally designed and built in Britain for Brazil, but acquired for the Royal Navy in 1878. Modifications to suit the Royal Navy took three years to complete and the ship did not begin her first commission until 1883 with the Channel Fleet. She was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1885, but refitted in Portsmouth in 1886–87. "Neptune" then became the coastguard ship for the 1st Class Reserve at Holyhead until 1893 when she was placed in in Portsmouth. While she was being towed to the breakers in 1903, "Neptune" unintentionally rammed HMS "Victory" , then serving as a training hulk for the Naval Signal School, collided with HMS "Hero" , and narrowly missed several other ships. She was scrapped in Germany in 1904.