Which side of the civil war had to build new ships and why?

Answer 1

At the beginning of the US Civil War the US Navy had 90 ships however only 40 were commissioned vessels. It also did not have the ships needed to conduct a war against the South. The navy lacked the ocean going force, equipment doctrine and training for operations on its coast and internal waterways. President Lincoln liked General in Chief Winfield Scott's plan on blockading Southern ports. To this end, ships on overseas duty were recalled to help on the blockades. The navy grew quickly. Within 9 months the US commissioned 76 ships, bought 136, and built in its safe harbors and shipyards another 52. Within 12 months the US Navy had 300 vessels.The South began the war with no navy at all and could never hope to match the US in war vessels. They bought as many as they could from England and used these small but swift war cruisers to attack Union cargo vessels and harass Union blockading ships. In time places such as Mobile, Alabama were able to build a few ships but not many.