The New Student's Reference Work/Ram

Ram, an ironclad ship with a heavily-armored stem, projecting in the form of a beak below the water-line, intended to run into and sink an enemy's vessels. In action the ram is propelled at full speed against her antagonist, and, if she succeeds in striking her fairly, the blow is supposed to be sufficient to crush in her side and sink her immediately. The ram was first employed during the Civil War in the action at Norfolk Roads in 1862, when the Federal frigate Cumberland was sunk by the Confederate ram Virginia.