The Ironclad Board was an advisory board, established by the Union, in which year, in response to the construction of the "CSS Virginia" by the Confederacy during the US Civil War,primary goal of the Ironclad Board was to develop more battle-worthy ("ironclad") ships, including the USS Monitor, an iron-hulled steamship?
USS Monitor USS "Monitor" was an iron-hulled steamship. Built during the American Civil War, she was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the Union Navy. "Monitor" is most famous for her central role in the Battle of Hampton Roads on 9 March 1862, where, under the command of Lieutenant John Worden, she fought the casemate ironclad  (built on the hull of the former steam frigate USS "Merrimack" ) to a standstill. The unique design of the ship, distinguished by its revolving turret which was designed by American inventor Theodore Timby, was quickly duplicated and established the monitor type of warship.
CSS Virginia II CSS Virginia II was a Confederate Navy steam-powered ironclad ram laid down in 1862 at the William Graves' shipyard in Richmond, Virginia. Acting Constructor William A. Graves, CSN, was the superintendent in charge of her construction. In order to conserve scarce iron plating, he ordered the ship's armored casemate shortened from the specifications given in John L. Porter's original building plans; in addition, the ship's iron-plating, while six inches thick on the casemate's forward face, was reduced to five inches on her port, starboard, and aft faces. Due to the shortening of her casemate, the number of her cannon were reduced to a single 11" smoothbore, a single 8" rifle, and two 6.4" rifles.