<P> The hull's burned timbers were cut down past the vessel's original waterline, leaving just enough clearance to accommodate her large, twin - bladed screw propeller . A new fantail and armored casemate were built atop a new main deck, and a v - shaped breakwater (bulwark) was added to her bow, which attached to the armored casemate . This forward and aft main deck and fantail were designed to stay submerged and were covered in 4 - inch - thick (10 cm) iron plate, built up in two layers . The casemate was built of 24 inches (61 cm) of oak and pine in several layers, topped with two 2 - inch (51 mm) layers of iron plating oriented perpendicular to each other, and angled at 36 degrees from horizontal to deflect fired enemy shells . </P> <P> From reports in Northern newspapers, Virginia's designers were aware of the Union plans to build an ironclad and assumed their similar ordnance would be unable to do much serious damage to such a ship . It was decided to equip their ironclad with a ram, an anachronism on a 19th century warship . Merrimack's steam engines, now part of Virginia, were in poor working order; they had been slated for replacement when the decision was made to abandon the Norfolk naval yard . The salty Elizabeth River water and the addition of tons of iron armor and pig iron ballast, added to the hull's unused spaces for needed stability after her initial refloat, and to submerge her unarmored lower eves, only added to her engines' propulsion issues . As completed, Virginia had a turning radius of about 1 mile (1.6 km) and required 45 minutes to complete a full circle, which would later prove to be a major handicap in battle with the far more nimble Monitor . </P> <P> The ironclad's casemate had 14 gun ports, three each in the bow and stern, one firing directly along the ship's centerline, the two others angled at 45 ° from the center line; these six bow and stern gun ports had exterior iron shutters installed to protect their cannon . There were four gun ports on each broadside; their protective iron shutters remained uninstalled during both days of the Battle of Hampton Roads . Virginia's battery consisted of four muzzle - loading single - banded Brooke rifles and six smoothbore 9 - inch (229 mm) Dahlgren guns salvaged from the old Merrimack . Two of the rifles, the bow and stern pivot guns, were 7 - inch (178 mm) caliber and weighed 14,500 pounds (6,600 kg) each . They fired a 104 - pound (47 kg) shell . The other two were 6.4 - inch (163 mm) cannon of about 9,100 pounds (4,100 kg), one on each broadside . The 9 - inch Dahlgrens were mounted three to a side; each weighed approximately 9,200 pounds (4,200 kg) and could fire a 72.5 - pound (32.9 kg) shell up to a range of 3,357 yards (3,070 m) at an elevation of 15 ° . Both amidship Dahlgrens nearest the boiler furnaces were fitted - out to fire heated shot . On her upper casemate deck were positioned two anti-boarding / personnel 12 - pounder Howitzers . </P> <P> Virginia's commanding officer, Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, arrived to take command only a few days before her first sortie; the ironclad was placed in commission and equipped by her executive officer, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones . </P>

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