Ram

Ram, an ironclad ship intended to run into and sink an enemy's vessels. For this purpose it is provided with a heavily armoured stem projecting below the water-line in the form of a beak (see figs. 7 &c. in article NAVY). In action the ram is propelled at full speed against her antagonist, and if she succeeds in striking her the blow is supposed to be sufficient to crush in her side and sink her immediately. Although at first rams had a separate rating in the British navy, all line-of-battle ships are now in effect rams, and the name is no longer used to denote a particular class of vessel, but is only applied to the part of the stem of the battle-ship used in striking. The ram was first employed during the American civil war in the action between the Federal fleet and the Confederate armour-clad ram Virginia in Norfolk Roads in 1862, when the Federal frigate Cumberland was rammed and sunk by the Virginia. In 1866 the Austrian ironclad Ferdinand Max rammed and sunk the Italian ironclad Re d'Italia at the battle of Lissa. In 1879 the Peruvian ironclad ram Huascar rammed and sunk the Chilean corvette Esmeralda. In 1875, while the Channel Fleet were off the Irish coast, the Vanguard was accidentally rammed by the Iron Duke, and sank in an hour. During the German naval manoeuvres of 1878 the Grosser Kurfürst was rammed by the König Wilhelm, and sank immediately, 280 of her crew being drowned. In 1893 the Victoria, flagship of the Mediterranean squadron, was rammed by the Cumberland and sunk with Admiral Tryon and 400 men. The result of all engagements fought since the introduction of rams has shown that when an attacked vessel is under control and properly handled ramming can easily be avoided; but at the same time it now plays an important part in naval tactics.