When launched, Victoria was the largest, fastest, and most heavily-armed ironclad. Three years after commissioning, she collided with HMS Camperdown and quickly sank, with the loss of 358 men.
Using a spar torpedo mounted on Picket Boat No.1, Lt. William Cushing and his crew succeeded in sinking CSS Albemarle at Plymouth, North Carolina, on the night of 27 October 1864.
First Union ironclad of the American Civil War. Fought famous battle with the first Confederate ironclad ‘Virginia’ here in Hampton Roads – the first battle between two iron ships.