The USS Canonicus was the first in her class of further improvements to the Monitor types as a result of combat experience. They featured a longer more streamlined hull, improvements to their armor, and standardization on new longer barrel XV in Dahlgren smoothbore cannon. Nine were built and some of them were participants in the Battle of Mobile Bay (Where one was sunk by a mine), the James River Campaign, and in the siege of Wilmington, NC. Specifications: Length-225’, Beam-43’ 8”, Draft-13’ 6”, Tonnage-2,100t, Speed-7kts, Crew-114, Armor-10” Turret, 5” Sides, 1 1⁄2” Deck, 10” Pilot House, Armament- Two XV in Dahlgren smoothbores. Built- Boston, MA. Launched-August 1863. The Model: 1/72 Scale, 37” Long. The scratch built model replicates the “decks clear” configuration that the ironclads operated in during wartime. The ship’s boats on the after deck would be towed astern when the ship was in action. The iron rim around the top of the turret was fitted to Monitors operating on inland rivers to thwart sniper fire. Because they were virtually identical, Monitors were all painted with varying combinations of turret and stack colors.