Critics were silenced when this long, low, maneuverable steam boat with a rotating turret famously described at a "cheesbox on a raft" defended the Minnesota in the Battle of Hampton Roads.  
In its most famous engagement Samuel Greene had to take over command when John L. Worden was blinded. It was lost at sea on route to Cape Hatteras and had nearly sunk while being pulled to its first action by the tug Seth Low.  So skeptical were officials about the seaworthiness of this vessel that all development costs were to be returned by its designer, John Ericsson, if it failed.  Critics were silenced when this long, low, maneuverable steam boat with a rotating turret famously described at a "cheesbox on a raft" defended the Minnesota in the Battle of Hampton Roads.  FTP, name this first ironclad, a Union ship that fought to a standstill with the Merrimack.
In its most famous engagement Samuel Greene had to take over command when John L. Worden was blinded.
USS Monitor