I have to agree with Wijnand. The British were the most powerful country on the planet at the time and could afford to be lavish when designing warships, much the same way the United States could be shortly before and during World War 2. The Union did manage to build some powerful ships, the New Ironsides and Dictator come to mind, but for the most part the US fleet was mainly a coastal defense one. The Scorpion and Wivern have to be counted among the best turret ironclads in my humble opinion.