|
The Sinking of USS MERRIMAC
BACKGROUND:
One of the most dramatic events of the Spanish American War, and one
which caught the public imagination, was that of the deliberate sinking of the collier
MERRIMAC. Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond Hobson modified a broken down collier (coal
supply vessel) to be operated by a skeleton crew of eight men, and rigged with explosives
to be blown at his command. The plan was to take the ship into the narrow channel leading
into Santiago Harbor and sink it, blocking the channel. This would block the Spanish fleet
within the harbor, therefore basically nullifying its existence. The crew was all
volunteer, since the mission was virtually a suicide mission, with little chance for the
crew to escape, though an attempt would be made. During the attack, the vessel was exposed
to gunfire from the batteries surrounding the channel entrance, mines in the channel, and
the guns and torpedoes of the Spanish vessels REINA MERCEDES and PLUTON.
The mission itself was a failure. The MERRIMAC's steering gear was damaged by enemy fire
and though the vessel sunk, it did not block the channel. Hobson and his crew were
captured. They were all eventually exchanged, with Hobson becoming an overnight celebrity
nationwide.
In hindsight, the U.S. forces were lucky that the effort did fail, as the Spanish fleet
would have been trapped in the harbor with crews and guns still able to defend Santiago
itself. For Spain, the situation would have been better if the effort had succeeded,
perhaps resulting in much less loss of Spanish life and a better bargaining position in
peace negotiations.
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
The MERRIMAC was a collier which was purchased by the Navy on April 12, 1898 for
$342,000 from the Hogan Line. Since that time, she had been giving Admiral Schley many
difficulties. The vessel had broken down on May 26 about forty miles from Santiago, which,
combined with weather conditions, contributed to Schley temporarily abandoning Santiago to
look for coal . The old collier broke down so often that one observer commented that it
was cause for comment if she moved for five hours without an engine or steering gear
breakdown. At times, the "full engineer force of the BROOKLYN was sent about her get
her running again." Still she was used to coal the TEXAS, MARBLEHEAD and VIXEN. The
idea for sinking the collier was proposed to Hobson by Admiral Sampson, with a request
that Hobson determine the best method for accomplishing the difficult task. This decision
was made even before Sampson and his force arrived off Santiago.
Hobson studied the problem and determined that there were two methods that could be used
to sink the vessel. One would be to use a series of explosives, termed
"torpedoes"; the second involved cutting rivet heads from six hull plates. The
torpedo method as chosen since it would take less time to prepare. The
"torpedoes" to be used consisted of ten separate watertight cannisters filled
with about 78 pounds of brown powder and strapped to the port side of the vessel below the
waterline. The torpedoes were rigged to to blown electronically. The port side was used
since this side would be the "forward" side as the ship turned into position,
causing the inrush of water to be more rapid. I addition, all ports, hatches, doors and
seacocks were rigged to be open or opened rapidly to increase the speed in which the
vessel would fill with water.
The system, if it worked, would sink the vessel within a minute and a quarter. However,
the electrical firing mechanisms were not the most reliable. In an effort to ensure
sinking if some or all of the electrical primers failed, Hobson requested two actual
automobile (Whitehead) torpedo warheads from the USS NEW YORK. The two hundred pounds of
guncotton from the torpedoes would be placed in the most critical location, and also
rigged for electrical firing. The request for the warheads was rejected by Admiral
Sampson, who stated that "two hundred pounds of guncotton on the inside would blow
everything to the devil" and would most likely kill the volunteer crew.
The plan was to take the MERRIMAC into the channel, put the helm hard to port, and drop
the bow anchor with specific length of chain. Shortly afterwards, when the vessel was
completely athwart the channel, the stern anchor would be dropped. at this point, the
torpedoes would be blown, seacocks opened, and the vessel would sink, blocking the
channel. The small all-volunteer crew would meet and escape via a catamaran hoisted over
the side, and sail back to the U.S. fleet.
Problems beset the plan as it was rushed to be readied in a very short time. Batteries had
to be depended on to fire the torpedoes, and there were initially only enough batteries to
fire six of the ten explosives. Preparations ran behind schedule, but, finally, almost
everything was in readiness.
The first attempt to sink the vessel on the night of June 1, 1898 was called off and
additional work was done on the vessel allowing the last four torpedoes to be able to
fire.
The next attempt was made on June 3, 1898. Almost immediately, the hard-luck collier began
to act up. Only three of the ten torpedoes responded to testing and were able to be fired.
Still, the MERRIMAC charged into the channel under full steam. A Spanish picket boat
hidden near the channel entrance opened up on the MERRIMAC with its rapid fire guns. At
point blank range, the plucky Spanish vessel fired directly at the MERRIMAC's steering
gear. The gear, already in bad conditon, failed. This was one of the most vulnerable
points on the veesel, and Hobson knew it. Without steering control, the mission was badly
compromised.
The MERRIMAC continued onward. The bow anchor was dropped and the first torpedo was fired.
Unfortunately, the only other torpedo to fire was number five. The three others that were
still functional as the vessel entered the channel had been damaged by gunfire and were no
longer operable.
The stern anchor was dropped, but the vessel , not in the planned position, dragged its
anchors and forged ahead. Batteries opened on the vessel on both sides. The MERRIMAC began
to sink almost across the channel, but the strong current began to straighten her out. The
vessel continued to move down the channel into the harbor and into greater danger. She
actually crossed the bows of the Spanish vessels REINA MERCEDES and PLUTON which both
unleashed fire and Whitehead torpedoes on the MERRIMAC.
The Spanish had mistaken the incoming vessel as some sort of man-o'-war attempting to
enter the harbor and attack the Spanish fleet. Some of the Spanish gunners apparently
fired on the muzzleblasts of guns they thought were aboard the incoming vessel. Crossfire
over the vessel occurred. The Spanish suffered casualties, which they did not learn until
later, were the result of friendly fire.
The MERRIMAC sunk, but not in a position that could block the channel. Hobson's crew, in
spite of the severe fire, were relatively unhurt. They found the catamaran overturned, and
a strong current entering from the sea, away from the U.S. fleet. It was apparent that
they could not swim against the current, so Hobson and his crew clung to the overturned
catamaran until they were picked up by a steam launch the next morning. The launch was
that of Spanish Admiral Cervera, who was aboard.
Hobson's crew became prisoners of war, and were well treated by their captors. Hobson
later wrote of how he was received aboard the REINA MERCEDES.
They were finally exchanged on July 6, 1898.
The mission had proved to be a failure. The channel was not blocked by the vessel, but
this act of bravery accorded Hobson and his crew hero status, with Hobson being awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor.
HOBSON'S CREW, WITH DUTIES:
Richmond Hobson - Overall command
George Charette - Fire torpedo #2 and #3
Randolph Clausen, Fire torpedo #5
Osborn Warren Deignan - Helmsman, fire torpedo #4
Francis Kelly - Operate engines, fire torpedo #8
Daniel Montague - Fire torpedo #7 (?)
J. C. Murphy - Drop anchor, fire torpedo #1
George F. Phillips - Operate engines, fire torpedo #6
TECHNOTES on MERRIMAC
Original Name: |
|
SOLVEIG |
U.S. Navy Purchase Date: |
|
April 12, 1898 |
Former Owner: |
|
T. Hogan & Sons of New York City |
Coal Capacity: |
|
4,976 tons |
Armament: |
|
None |
Armor: |
|
None |
Sources used for this information
Graham, George Edward, "Schley and Santiago", Chicago: W. B. Conkey Company,
1902.
Hobson, Richmond Pearson, "The Sinking of the Merrimac", Annapolis: Naval
Institute Press, 1987 reprint.
|