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Later Classes of Monitors:
USS Roanoke
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USS Roanoke
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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The first Roanoke was launched on December 13, 1855, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. She was assigned as the flagship for the Home Squadron and was assigned to return former president of Nicaragua, William Walker to the United States. After the return trip from Columbia she was decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard in 1855.
Recommissioned in 1858, the Roanoke resumed her duty as flagship for the Home Squadron. She cruised to the West Indies, Central America, and to Japan. In May 1860 she was decommissioned in Hampton Roads, Virginia, only to be recommissioned at the outbreak of the Civil War. After seeing battle while attached to the North Atlantic Squadron, the Roanoke was in the Hampton Roads during the CSS Virginia's attack on March 8, 1862. The Roanoke took on 268 men from the Congress and the Cumberland and transported them to New York by March 25, 1862.
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USS Roanoke
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum
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She was decommissioned the same day and refitted by the Novelty Iron Works, New York. She was cut down and given three-revolving turrets. She kept her single funnel, but all rigging and masts were removed. During sea trials it was discovered that her three turrets caused the Roanoke to roll dangerously and her hull was not sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the turrets and the concussion of continuous firing.
The Roanoke was recommissioned on June 20, 1863 at the New York Navy Yard and reassigned to Hampton Roads, Virginia as a harbor defense ship. Decommissioned after the Civil War on June 20, 1865, in January 1874 the Roanoke was recommissioned as the flagship of the Port Admiral of New York. She was taken out of commission August 5, 1882 and sold for scrap September 27, 1883, at Chester, Pennsylvania.
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Historic Legacy of the Monitor
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Introduction: Later Classes of
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