1975 Report on the Sinking of the USS Maine

A 1970's investigation on the sinking of the USS Maine, initiated by Admiral Hyman Rickover (known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy") concluded that that an accident was likely the cause of the tragic 1898 explosion that instigated the Spanish-American War. This is an excerpt of a report produced by that study.

Ib S. Hansen and Robert S. Price

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photographic Section

April 30, 1975

Wrecked Ships from the 1889 Samoan Hurricane

Wrecked warships, including the USS Trenton and USS Vandalia at left, along with the German ship Olga at right, at Apia Harbor after the hurricane of March 15-16 1889.

Unknown

Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 42289

March 1889

Wreck of the USS Maine

An oil painting depicting the wreckage of the armored cruiser USS Maine, which blew up in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898.

A. Melero

Naval History and Heritage Command, KN-10967

1898

Aftermath of the Explosion of the USS Bennington

A boiler on board the gunboat USS Bennington exploded in 1905. She is seen here sitting on the bottom in San Diego, her hull covered with soot.

Unknown

Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 85694

1905

Victims of the USS Missouri Turret Explosion

Bodies of sailors killed in the turret explosion of the battleship USS Missouri in 1904 are brought ashore.

Rochester News Company

Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 101213-KN

1904

Funeral Service and Mass Grave

A funeral service is held in San Diego for sailors killed in the massive boiler explosion on board the gunboat USS Bennington.