Ironclad (Age of Empires III)

The Ironclad is a special military vessel that can be sent from the Home City in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs and Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.

Overview
They are only available through Revolution, or through Portuguese allies in an Asian Consulate. They are a faster and swifter firing version of a Monitor with diminished range, line of sight and hit points (versus a fully upgraded monitor).

They are a mixture between the Frigate and the Monitor; as a result it is merely average at both roles. Both ships out perform the ironclad in their specific roles. It's reduced range puts it within firing range of Culverins, Light Cannons, and Hand Mortars along a shoreline, along with the usual Mortars and Morutaru artillery units. The Ironclad, like the Monitor, will be helpless in naval warfare unless supported by other ships as even a few Caravels or Privateers can severely damage the vessel.

Though it is fast for what it is, it is still much slower than the majority of other warships and will have a hard time catching fleeing ships. This weakness can easily be exploited by an enemy who constantly rotates cheaper, lower hit point vessels back and forth from Docks (for purposes of repairs) while fighting the ironclad and it's support fleet.

Even though this ship looks very powerful and advanced, it can be beaten by even a Tlaloc Canoe in a one-on-one fight depending on the circumstances.

History
"Around the middle of the nineteenth century, warships armored with iron plates emerged as the dominant naval vessel during conflicts across the globe. In the U.S. Civil War, the Monitor class of steam-powered warships was developed. In March 1862, the legendary first battle of true Ironclads occurred, pitting the U.S.-built Monitor against the Confederacy's Merrimack. After a four-hour struggle, the battle ended inconclusively with the Merrimack withdrawing to deeper water. Even though neither ship emerged victorious, this day heralded the end of the age of wooden warships."