USS Maine (BB-10)

USS "Maine" (BB-10), the lead ship of her class of battleships, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 23rd state.

The contract to build "Maine" was awarded to William Cramp and Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 1 October 1898, and her keel was laid down on 15 February 1899, a year to the day after the destruction of the first "Maine" She was launched on 27 July 1901, sponsored by Miss Mary Preble Anderson, and commissioned at Philadelphia on 29 December 1902 with Captain Eugene H.C. Leutze in command.

From 1903 to 1907 "Maine" cruised along the Atlantic coast south to the West Indies, and she completed one cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. On 16 December 1907 she left Hampton Roads with the rest of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet en route to the Pacific Ocean where she joined ships of that fleet for a cruise around the world. In company with USS|Alabama|BB-8|2, she went to Guam and the Philippines, through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, and returned to the Atlantic coast in October 1908, considerably in advance of the rest of the "Great White Fleet."

Fitted out as flagship of the Third Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, "Maine" resumed operations along the Atlantic coast and into Caribbean waters during the next several months. She decommissioned at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 31 August 1909. Recommissioned on 15 June 1911, "Maine" operated along the east coast. During World War I, she trained engineers, armed guard crews, and midshipmen. Following the defeat of the Central Powers, she took part in the review of the fleet at New York City on 26 December 1918.

"Maine" operated with ships of the Atlantic Fleet until 15 May 1920 when she decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard. She was sold on 23 January 1922 to Joseph G. Hitner and William F. Cutlet of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for scrap. She was rendered incapable of further warlike service on 17 December 1923 in accordance with terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, and subsequently broken up and scrapped.

References

Alden, John D. "American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1989. ISBN 0870212486

Friedman, Norman. "U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985. ISBN 0870217151

Reilly, John C. and Robert L. Scheina. "American Battleships 1996-1923: Predreadnought Design and Construction." Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1980. ISBN 0870215248

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/bb10.htm NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER USS Maine (Battleship # 10, later BB-10), 1902-1922]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/uss_maine_bb10.htm Maritimequest USS Maine BB-10 Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/10a.htm NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive BB-10 USS MAINE 1899 - 1910]