To punch a frigate side is necessary speed not less than 5 knots. At small casemate ironclads as Chicora (displacement of 850 tons) are not present special ram bow. It has nothing to punch a side. At casemate ironclad there are not enough guns.
Steam frigate the big and strong ship with displacement of 4000 tons. At it the big crew.
At casemate ironclad there is a serious problem. It is described by miscellaneous authors (Wilson, Ironclads in Action). For example analysis of the Mobile battle 1864. Not piercing armour at all any kernel or a shell put damages in a casemate. Bolts came off, splinters from metallic units flied, wood bars of a casemate were broken. "The heavy shot bent in the iron shield and shattered its oak backing. Fragments killed or wounded some of the crew; one of the casualties was Admiral Buchanan himself, who suffered a badly broken leg. No longer able to fight, Commander James D. Johnston, captain of Tennessee, requested and received permission from the wounded admiral to surrender."
I wish to notice, that this description of battle with the best iron clad ship (CSS Tennessee - armor 6in) which has been constructed in the South. All remaining casemate ironclad have been defended by the armor with a thickness of 4,5 inches.
Casemate ironclads have been constructed of a crude tree by usual carpenters. These ships plotted not because they were effective, that is why that could not construct others. Compare in battle a turret ironclad ship vs steam frigates. It will prove you that a good ironclad from England (or US monitors) more strongly even the greatest frigates.
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