Passaic-class monitor

The Passaic-class ironclad monitors of the U.S. Navy saw service in the U.S. Civil War and the Spanish-American War. The last such monitor was stricken from the Navy List in 1937.

Naval architect and engineer John Ericsson designed the Passaic-class warships, drawing upon lessons learned from the first USS Monitor, which he also designed. The Monitor fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia to a draw in the Battle of Hampton Roads, but was lost in a storm in December 1862. The Passaic monitors were larger than the original Monitor and had their pilothouses atop the turret, rather than near the bow. This allowed a wider field of fire and easier communications between captain, pilot and crew.

Warships of Passaic class included:
* Passaic
* Montauk
* Nahant
* Patapsco
* Weehawken
* Sangamon
* Catskill
* Nantucket
* Lehigh
* Camanche

The first ship of the class was named for the town of Passaic, New Jersey.