USS Maine (BB-10)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Maine.

USS Maine (BB-10)
USS Maine USS Maine underway
Career (US)
Name:	USS Maine
Namesake:	The State of Maine
Builder:	William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laid down:	15 February 1899
Launched:	27 July 1901
Sponsored by:	Mary Preble Anderson
Commissioned:	29 December 1902
Decommissioned:	31 August 1909
Recommissioned:	15 June 1911
Decommissioned:	15 May 1920
Struck:	1 July 1921
Fate:	Sold for scrapping 26 January 1922
Notes:	In accordance with Washington Naval Treaty, rendered incapable of further combat service on 17 December 1923 prior to scrapping
General characteristics
Class & type:	Maine-class battleship
Displacement:	12,500 tons/11,300 tonnes (standard) 13,500 tons/12,200 tonnes (full load)
Length:	388 ft (118.3 m) (waterline) 394 ft (120.1 m) (overall)
Beam:	72 ft 3 in (22.02 m)
Draft:	24 ft 4 in (7.42 m) (mean) 26 ft (7.9 m) (max)
Speed:	18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement:	561 officers and enlisted
Armament:	4 × 12 in (305 mm)/40 cal guns 16 × 6 in (152 mm)/50 cal guns 6 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal guns 8 × 3-pounders (47 mm (1.9 in)) 6 × 1-pounders (37 mm (1.5 in)) 3 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns 2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes
Armor:	Belt: 5.5–11 in (140–279 mm) Barbettes: 8–12 in (203–305 mm) Turret Mains: 11–12 in (279–305 mm) Turret secondary: 5.5–6 in (140–152 mm) Conning tower: 10 in (254 mm)

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 of Portland, great granddaughter of Commodore Edward Preble. Maine Governor John Fremont Hill and his staff attended; and commissioned at Philadelphia on 29 December 1902, Captain Eugene Henry Cozzens Leutze, USNA 1867 in command.

Pre-World War I

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 Atlantic Fleet en route to the Pacific Ocean, where she joined ships of the Pacific Fleet for a cruise as the "Great White Fleet". In company with Alabama, 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 3rd 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.

World War I

Maine in 1916

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 for scrap.

References

Bibliography

• Alden, John D. (1989). 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. ISBN 0-87021-248-6. 
• Chesneau, Roger; Koleśnik, Eugène M.; Campbell, N.J.M. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5. 
• Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships, An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-715-1. 
• Reilly, John C.; Scheina, Robert L. (1980). American Battleships 1886–1923: Predreadnought Design and Construction. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-524-8. 
• "Maine". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m2/maine-ii.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 

External links

• Naval Historical Center USS Maine (Battleship # 10, later BB-10), 1902–1922
• MaritimeQuest USS Maine BB-10 Photo Gallery
• Photo gallery of BB-10 USS Maine 1899–1906 at NavSource Naval History