The USS Atlanta was an ironclad warship that served during the American Civil War, initially constructed as a British-built blockade runner named Fingal. Built by J&G Thomson's Clyde Bank Iron Shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, Fingal was completed in early 1861. She measured approximately 189 feet (57.6 meters) in length, with a beam of 25 feet (7.6 meters), a draft of 12 feet (3.7 meters), and a tonnage estimated around 700 tons bm. The vessel was powered by two vertical single-cylinder steam engines, driving her at a top speed of about 13 knots, fueled by steam from a single flue-tubular boiler. Originally operated between Glasgow and Scottish ports, Fingal was purchased in September 1861 by Confederate agents, including James D. Bulloch, and was used to run the Union blockade. Disguised and under an English crew, she successfully slipped into Savannah, Georgia, in November 1861, carrying cargo and attempting to support Confederate efforts. After several failed blockade runs and a brief commercial career, Fingal was converted into an ironclad in early 1862 by the brothers Asa and Nelson Tift, largely financed by local contributions. The conversion involved cutting down the ship to her main deck and adding large wooden sponsons to support a casemate armor structure, increasing her overall length to 204 feet (62.2 meters) and her beam to 41 feet (12 meters). Her armor consisted of two layers of railroad rails rolled into plates, with a 30° angled casemate made from layered iron and backed by thick oak and pine. The casemate was pierced with eight narrow gun ports, each protected by armored shutters, and she was armed with Brooke rifles: two 7-inch guns at the bow and stern, and a 6.4-inch gun amidships. Her design was challenging; trials in July 1862 revealed steering difficulties, leaks, and ventilation issues. Commissioned in November 1862, Atlanta served as the flagship of the Georgia naval defenses. She participated in attempts to pass Union blockades and engaged Union monitors, notably running aground and being damaged in June 1863. Her most significant action occurred in June 1863, during which she was attacked by Union monitors Weehawken and Nahant, and after damage and limited resistance, she surrendered within 15 minutes. The Union Navy captured her, repaired her, and recommissioned her in February 1864 with new armament, including Parrott rifles. As part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Atlanta supported Union operations along the James River, including defending against Confederate sorties and supporting assaults on Richmond. Decommissioned in June 1865, she was later sold to Haiti in 1869. En route for her service in the Caribbean, she broke down and subsequently vanished at sea, sinking with all hands, marking her maritime significance as a notable example of Civil War ironclad innovation and combat.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.