USS MAINE was unique
at the time in that she was purely the product of
American naval design, and was built at a U.S.
Naval Yard. By contrast, her contemporary, USS
TEXAS, was the product of a design competition,
based on an English design, and constructed by a
naval contractor. In fact, USS MAINE is the largest
vessel to be actually built in a U.S. Navy Yard.
USS MAINE was a showpiece for the United States Navy
and was given many ceremonial tasks. On December 15,
1897, she was heading south toward Florida. At about 9:30 PM on February 15, she
was shattered by two separate explosions and rapidly
sank. Two hundred and fifty-two men were killed.
Ammunition continued to explode for hours after the
blast.
The Navy concluded
that the ship was sunk by a mine which ignited the
forward magazines. Regardless of the reality of the
situation, the loss of the USS MAINE had turned
American popular opinion strongly in favor of war
with Spain. Despite of his efforts to avoid war,
President McKinley finally decided to militarily
intervene in Cuba to end the ongoing unrest and
"liberate" Cuba from Spanish rule.
Many momentos of
the USS MAINE still exist. The mainmast is in
Arlington National Cemetery, just outside of Washinton DC, and her foremast is near the seawall
at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. One of
her bow anchors is located in Reading,
Pennsylvania's City Park at the first block of North
11th Street. Her capstan rests in the Battery in
Charleston, South Carolina, and her bow scroll is in
Bangor, Maine.
=========================================
This model feature plank-on-frame
construction. All parts are wooden and metal.
31.5" L
x 17"W x 10" T
$1,750
S & H is $130
Tell a friend:
|
s.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)