Steel & Steam

 

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USS Constitution defeating HMS Guerriere in the War of

US Navy History and Heritage Command

For centuries before the Civil War, large naval battles had not changed dramatically.  Conflicts in the &#;Age of Sail&#; were fought by wooden, sail-driven ships carrying as many cannon as possible, which would generally pummel each other until one of them became so damaged that it could not keep up the fight. In the decade before the Civil War, however, major developments in naval technology &#; particularly in propulsion and artillery &#; forever changed the face of naval warfare. In the words of one historian, a British captain who fought the Spanish Armada in "would have been more at home in the typical war-ship of , than the average captain of could have been...in the advanced [ship]types of the Civil War."

Steam

The screw sloop USS Hartford &#; flagship of Adm. David Farragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay

US Navy

The first of these changes was the introduction of steam power.  Steam engines had existed before the nineteenth century, but Robert Fulton built the first steam-powered warship in for the US Navy. By burning coal, paddlewheel or propeller-driven steamships achieved an unprecedented freedom of movement.  Unlike sailing ships, whose movement relied heavily on the wind&#;s power and direction, &#;steamers&#; could more easily return upriver after transporting goods to port or continue a journey with weak or adverse winds.

 

Steam warships were slow to catch on, but by the late s, all new warships built by the Navy featured steam engines. The significance of the steam was not necessarily obvious to outside observers &#; at least at first.  The engines did not make the ships dramatically faster, and many steamships continued to use sails to preserve fuel on long trips.  These ships looked and functioned much like ships from the age of sail except for the tell-tale smokestack rising above their decks. Nevertheless, because of their flexibility, steamers served as blockade runners, transports, and cruisers &#; and in virtually every role that could be found for them during the war.  They also paved the way for other major developments in warship design.

Improved Artillery

 

John A. Dahlgren with one of his "Dahlgren Guns"

Library of Congress

Major artillery developments caused further change to warships.  In the s, several innovations in cannon construction enabled the military to build bigger, more accurate, and longer-ranged guns.  One such change was conceived by John Dahlgren, a naval officer who developed a technique for reinforcing the breach of a cannon to better withstand the extra gunpowder needed to fire larger shells at greater distances.  Furthermore, although both Union and Confederate navies continued to use smoothbore cannon, rifled cannon (which featured grooves on the inside of the barrel to impart a spin on the projectile) became increasingly common in the s and s.  These weapons were significantly more accurate than their smoothbore predecessors, and when combined with the long range of newer naval guns, meant that naval battles could be fought at much greater distances.

These innovations were amplified by the widespread adoption of explosive shells, which had been developed in the s.  Several types of cannon shot existed in the centuries before the Civil War, but virtually all of them were designed to cripple a ship or kill her crew. Shells, however, contained a fuse timed to detonate after hitting the ship, meaning that a single shell could blow a sizeable hole in a wooden ship and send her to the bottom.

Ironclads

The developments in artillery and propulsion led to another key innovation: the ironclad. Realizing how tremendously vulnerable wooden ships were to destruction by long range, explosive cannon fire, naval architects began to dramatically improve ships' defenses by plating them with iron or steel.  This casing made shells bounce off the ship, allowing ironclads to survive repeated direct hits. Ironclads were extremely heavy, so powerful steam engines took the place of sails, which were weaker and vulnerable to enemy fire. 

 

Ironclads USS Monitor (foreground) and CSS Virginia (center) meet at the Battle of Hampton Roads

Library of Congress

The first ironclads were built in Europe just before the Civil War, but neither North nor South possessed any of their own when the war began.  Both sides began building or converting ironclads of various shapes and sizes.  Some ironclads were simply normal steamships covered with metal plates (called casemate ironclads), while the Union built a number of "Monitor" class gunboats that sat low in the water and utilized a revolving armored gun turret.  Gunboats intended to sail on Western rivers typically had shallower drafts than their ocean-going counterparts, which were designed to be more stable in heavy seas.  Union and Confederate ironclads first met in battle in March at the Battle of Hampton Roads &#; the world's first naval engagement between ironclad warships.

With the battle of Hampton Roads, naval warfare changed forever.  The ironclads could defeat wooden warships with relative ease, and brushed aside all but the heaviest (or the luckiest) artillery rounds.  Apart from piercing the sturdy armor, an artillerist fighting an ironclad could only hope to hit a smokestack or shoot through an open gunport.  Even then, it was unlikely the shot would do significant damage.  So powerful were the ironclads that they upset an ancient axiom of naval warfare that forts were stronger than ships.  Traditionally, forts afforded protection from enemy fire, a stable shooting platform for gunners, and the ability to mount powerful guns that were too large or heavy for ships.  These factors remained true, but the new ironclads also had defense from enemy fire.  Because they could withstand more time near a fort, groups of ironclads were able to rush past forts to enter harbors, or even &#; on several occasions &#; defeat forts in artillery duels.

Rams

The captured Confederate ironclad ram CSS Stonewall

Library of Congress

 

As it became clear that most cannon fire could not reliably stop ironclads, the Union and Confederate navies increasingly invested in alternative strategies. One of the responses to this problem was not really an innovation at all, but a return to the dawn of naval warfare.  The ram was used as the principal weapon on ancient Mediterranean warships but had gone out of style as larger sailing-ships carrying cannon replaced oar-driven galleys. Steam engines, however, granted more maneuverability than sails, and when used in combination with heavy armor, could allow a ship to get close enough to ram and sink another ship (even an ironclad). Nevertheless, successfully ramming another ship was a difficult task that could sometimes damage the ramming vessel itself; rams once again drifted into obsolescence in the decades after the war.

Torpedos

 

A captured "David" class Confederate torpedo boat

US Navy History and Heritage Command

In the South, where iron was scarce and the ability to make powerful steam engines was virtually nonexistent, Confederates were also forced to seek other methods of protecting their ports from an increasingly armored Union fleet. One solution was to deploy "torpedoes" &#; submerged explosives (which would be called sea mines today) that could detonate under enemy ships.  Torpedoes, therefore, had the advantage of being able to attack an ironclad below the waterline, where its hull was most vulnerable. 

When torpedoes proved successful, the Confederacy designed the first "torpedo boats," which carried mines on long spars in front of the ship.  The boats sat low in the water so that they were harder to see, and presented a smaller target to cannon fire.  On multiple occasions, torpedo boats (which were quickly adopted by the Union) were able to sail up to anchored ships and detonate torpedoes against the vessels&#; hulls.

Submarines

 

Southerners took the concept of low-profile torpedo boats one step further with the development of several submarines.  The first-ever submarine to destroy an enemy ship was the H.L. Hunley, which sank USS Housatonic near Charleston in February .  The Hunley was essentially a submerged torpedo boat that had been plagued by bad luck and technical problems since its creation &#; losing almost two full crews in training exercises.  Her career was short-lived; the sub sank with all hands almost immediately after the attack, and no other submarines were able to achieve any notable success during the war.

The Hunley sitting on a dock &#; based on a photograph

US Navy History and Heritage Command

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These interrelated innovations in naval technology &#; along with other notable developments such as the first warship to use a revolving gun turret in combat (the USS Monitor) and the US Navy's first aircraft carrier (a barge for launching observation balloons) &#; mark the Civil War as the beginning of a new era in naval warfare.  The technology of the Civil War became the new standard among world powers, and the heavily armored, steam-powered battleships (soon to be known as "dreadnaughts") served as key tools for projecting national power and played a dominant role in the diplomacy between the world's "Great Powers" in the years of frenzied imperialism leading up to World War I. It was almost a century before further innovations, such as the dramatic improvements to ship-borne aircraft, caused the US Navy to once again majorly reorient the designs and missions of its ships.  Other Civil War-era innovations &#; like steel armor and submarines&#; are still central components of modern naval warfare.

Key Takeaways

• Versatile and Sturdy: Platform beds offer a combination of simplicity and sturdiness and are available in various styles. They can accommodate any mattress type, making them a versatile choice for different sleeping preferences.
• Eliminate the Need for Box Springs: Platform beds feature a slatted wood, solid wood, or metal surface, eliminating the need for a separate box spring or foundation. This design reduces the overall height of the bed, creating a lower profile compared to other bed frames.
• Various Styles and Surfaces: Platform beds come in a range of styles, including classic, headboard and footboard, upholstered, storage, floating surface, and metallic. They also offer different surface options, such as solid, slatted, or metallic, catering to various aesthetic preferences and support needs.

A platform bed combines simplicity with sturdiness and comes in various styles. They are a versatile option that works with any mattress type.

Once you&#;ve found the best mattress, you&#;ll need a sturdy frame to support it. Without proper support, mattresses become vulnerable to sagging and wear.

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Features of a Platform Bed Frame

A platform bed is a simple, low-raised bed frame with a slatted wood, solid wood, or metal surface&#;eliminating the need for a box spring or foundation. You may keep your mattress directly on a platform bed without having to invest in an additional support system.

Removing a foundation or box spring from the equation reduces your bed&#;s height. Platform beds have a lower profile compared to other types of bed frames&#;usually between 6 and 18 inches tall.

Platform beds may be a legless solid block, slightly raised from the ground, or they may have small legs with a flat solid or slatted surface.

Platform beds are versatile because they are suitable for almost all mattress types. Foam mattresses tend to decompress faster if they don&#;t find the required support. Platform bed frames with their solid or slatted surface provide the right amount of support required for any mattress type.

Platform Bed Frame Sizes and Dimensions

Platform beds typically come in all the standard sizes, from twin to king platform beds.

Platform Bed Frame SizeDimensions (IN)Dimensions (CM) California King72 inches by 84 inches183 cm by 213.5 cm King76 inches by 80 inches193 cm by 203.5 cm Queen60 inches by 80 inches152.5 cm by 203.5 cm Full54 inches by 75 inches134.5 cm by 190.5 cm Twin39 inches by 75 inches99.06 cm by 190.5 cm

If you&#;re debating which mattress size is the right one for you, we suggest reading some of our mattress size comparison guides:

Types of Platform Beds

Platform beds are available in a wide variety of styles such as classic, headboard and footboard, upholstered, storage, floating surface, and metallic.

Classic Wood Platform Bed

Typically a classic platform bed does not have a headboard or footboard. It is a simple bed frame usually made with wood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), or particleboard. The classic style is suitable for those living in a studio apartment bedroom or a small multi-room apartment where space is still limited.

Headboard and Footboard Platform Bed

The increasing popularity of platform beds has led to headboard and footboard additions. For a regal look, you may opt for a fancy wooden headboard and footboard. Platform beds with headboards and footboards look good in bigger bedrooms, as they add to the room&#;s aesthetic appeal.

Upholstered Platform Bed

Upholstered platform bed frames suit more modern and contemporary decor. The upholstery comes in many color options. From vibrant pink, red, gold, and blue to subtle beige, cream, and grey&#;choose one to suit your preference. You can even choose a color-coordinated headboard to complement your upholstered platform bed. Colorful upholstered platform beds are a good option for children&#;s rooms too.

Storage Space Platform Bed

Lots of platform beds come with built-in storage. If you have a small bedroom but need more sleeping surface, a platform bed with storage drawers is a convenient option.

Floating Surface Platform Bed

As its name implies, a floating platform bed gives the impression that it&#;s floating off the ground. A plank made of wood, particleboard, or MDF serves as the base for your mattress, which is supported by a rectangular structure at the center.

From a distance, you won&#;t notice the support structure beneath the extended plank. The hidden support structure gives you the impression of a floating sleeping surface.

Metal Platform Bed

Metallic platform beds are made of wrought iron or steel. They are more durable than wooden models. However, metal rails may apply more pressure on foam mattresses causing them to decompress. If you have a bed with springs, then a metallic platform bed may suit your purpose.

Types of Platform Bed Surfaces

The basic feature of a platform bed is that it&#;s ready to use, as a mattress may be placed directly on it without the need for a box spring or additional foundation. However, if you&#;d like to increase your bed&#;s height, you can still pair these bed frames with a box spring or another kind of bed foundation. If you are placing a mattress foundation on a platform bed, be mindful of available space. A platform bed with a headboard may not leave enough room for a tall mattress with a foundation.

Platform beds are usually solid, slatted, or metallic.

Solid Surface

The solid surface is usually made of wood, MDF, or particleboard with tiny holes or channels. The channels and holes promote airflow beneath the mattress. A solid base such as a bunkie board may make your bed feel firmer than a slatted surface.

Slatted Surface

The slats may be made of wood, particleboard, composite wood like MDF, or plastic. These slats are placed 2 to 2.75 inches apart for best support. They are usually rigid and straight but sometimes flexed to bow outward to counteract the weight of the mattress and the sleeper. Closely spaced slats provide a sturdy base while promoting airflow.

Metallic Surface

Platform beds with metal rails may not be suitable for a foam mattress because the rails may put too much pressure on the foam, causing it to sag.

Pros and Cons of a Platform Bed

Platform beds come with their share of pros and cons.

Pros:

• More affordable because platform beds do not require the use of any other mattress support systems
• Multi-purpose, because of the under-bed storage
• Easy to find a mattress for a platform bed
• Solid surface with holes or slatted surface promotes airflow and enhances mattress breathability

Cons:

• A low profile may make it difficult to get in and out of bed, especially for those with back or knee pain

FAQs

Are platform beds available in all sizes?

From a twin size bed to a king size bed, platform beds are available in all standard mattress sizes.

Do platform beds provide the required support for all mattress types?

Usually, platform beds are compatible with all mattress types. But we recommend checking with the mattress manufacturers about the ideal base.

Conclusion

Modern platform beds have different style options. Opting for a platform bed saves you more money than if you were to invest in an entire bed set. Moreover, platform beds have drawers for extra storage. Platform beds&#; compatibility with all mattress types makes them a popular choice.

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