Matt's Model Boats

Pará -class monitos relied upon plates of wrought-iron and a backing of tropical hardwood, which covered the sides as well as the turrets of the river-craft, to resist the blows that they received from the batteries of the Paraguayan Army. Four and a half inches of wrought-iron plates, which were attached to fifteen-inches of solid timber, protected the sides of the fighting vessels. Six-inches of wrought-iron, which was backed by ten-inches of tropical hardwood, protected the turret from missiles. Humaitá, which was also known as Humayitá, prevented the Imperial Brazilian Navy from ascending the Paraguay River. A division of ironclads, which was stationed between Curupayty and Humaitá, awaited reinforcements from Brazil. Pará -class monitors, which arrived on the Paraguay River in the February of 1868, had been unable to participate in the earlier engagements that had occurred between the Allied armies and the forces of Francisco Solano López. A new division of ironclads, which includ...