The Search for the USS Maine

Over 100 years ago the USS Maine was on a visit to have them to Cuba when the battleship mysteriously exploded killing most of the crew and sparking off the Spanish-American War. Now over a century later an international team of scientists searches the deep waters off the coast of Havana hoping to find the wreckage of this once mighty ship the USS Maine an American legend on the ocean floor. This is modern day have an attack the capital city of the island of Cuba

just 90 miles south of Key West Abana is a bustling metropolis of over two million people. A full one fifth of Cuba's population called Savannah Hong Abana is a city undergoing a region of the nation a facelift of sorts. Peeling away years of neglect to reveal stunning architectural detail and forgotten historical treasures. These improvements are necessary as tourism is Savannah's lifeblood on any given day. Thousands of visitors from around the world flock to the island to enjoy Cuba's famous music arches and black in the Caribbean culture. Any observant tourist would quickly notice that life in Havana revolves around the sea the epicenter of Cuba and indeed the

entire Caribbean has long been a Bana Harbor. Officially discovered in 14 92 by Christopher Columbus the island of Cuba became the possession of the Spanish empire and the port of Havana quickly became the doorway to the new world. Ships laden with gold and treasure stopped them have to take on provisions for the long journey back across the Atlantic. Such a valuable port needed protection from the rotting pirates. So the Spanish built the intimidating El Morro Castle and equipped it with an impressive array of camels. It was Spain's lucrative island fortress at the entrance to the new world. But Spain was not a gentle ruler. Cuban revolts against the corrupt Spanish government flared up regularly. The Spanish throne wasted no time sending

huge numbers of troops and supplies to squelch the small bands of Cuban insurgents by the end of the 19th century. Tensions on the island of Cuba are running high. Into this political hotbed steamed the brand new American battleship the USS Maine. On the morning of January 25th 1898 the Maine entered Havana Harbor ceremonial colors fly never to leave again. Three weeks later the Maine was destroyed in an explosion that claimed the lives of two hundred sixty six crewman making it the deadliest peacetime naval incident in American history and the most mysterious who blew up the Maine was at the Spanish as popular belief held or the Cuban insurgents hoping to draw the United States into their conflict.

Or was it an accident perhaps caused by a fire in one of the mains coal bunkers. The explosion remains a mystery to this day. The battleship Maine was one of the first armored cruisers in Teddy Roosevelt's new Navy in 1903 Congress approved the building of several new battleships to replace the U.S. Navy's antiquated Civil War sailing vessels. This would be one of the first ships armored with steel and U.S. battleship Maine. That steel would be made in the United States. The design of the ship would be created in the United States. It would actually be built in the United States Navy shipyard all of this was radically new. The main and her sister ship the Texas would be the first of

the American Navy to actually be an American ship. So not only was the the Navy itself proud of this vessel but of the people in the United States. We're proud of the battlefield and she was a very various national United States naval vessel the pride of the American fleet cost an astounding two and a half million dollars to build. The main was one of the first battle cruisers to be equipped with electric light fixtures. Over 400 and all. Her naval weaponry was the most advanced available for impressive 10 inch Cannon who's half a dozen and six inch guns on swiveling bases seven rapid firing six pounders and four torpedo tubes. The main was 300 900 feet long carried a crew complement of three hundred ninety two man and her engines could pump out over nine thousand

horsepower. Most importantly the main could cruise for seven thousand miles without recalling due to her enormous coal bunkers. This alone was her most significant benefit to the new navy as coaling stations available to American fighting vessels were few and far between. Our huge crowd turned out to witness the launching of the Maine on a cold November Tuesday in 1890. Twenty thousand spectators showed up at the New York Navy Yard to watch the christening. Even the grapes for the champagne had been grown on American soil in San Bernardino California. Young Alice Tracy Wilmer daying granddaughter of the new secretary of the Navy did the honors in her nervousness. She might not have realized that she struck the ceremonial bottle in a somewhat objectionable location.

When she saw the pencil line she hit the champagne bottle. The number 13 and some in the crowd noted that there were some boards among the crew that had already been selected for the battleship. This could be a very nice sign. It took another five years after her launching before the superstructure of the main was completed and she was finally ready for sea duty. No one knew that her lifespan would be pitifully short. The main had taken over nine years to design and build. She would be in commission for less than twenty nine months. As the main went about her initial duties of training exercises and ceremonial visits the situation in Cuba was worsening. News of Spanish atrocities and of Cuban suffering was reaching the sympathetic ears of the American public.

This news was spread primarily by two New York newspapers the Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst. And the world owned by. Both Hearst and Pulitzer quickly discovered the insatiable appetite of the American public for news about the turmoil in Cuba are not a war for circulation and they would send reporters down to have that spent most of the time in the bar them at their hotel making up stories but there actually were some good reporters who failed. His various work. Perhaps working for the U.S. intelligence as well as. The. Newspaper boss. Although the stories reported in the world in the Journal were often times larger than life the crimes being committed against the Cuban people were quite real. Spain sent General Vallely Rhianna whaler to Cuba to crush the Cuban uprisings once and for all

promptly dubbed the butcher by the New York newspaper his waiter employed harsh tactics to end the rebellion. His recounts and planned call for all Cubans living in the countryside to be relocated into concentration camps to deprive the insurgents of their sources of food and supplies. Three Concentra families were forced to leave their farms and animals behind and they began to starve under the horrible conditions in the camps. News and pictures of starving Cubans along with inflammatory editorials outraged the American public. President William McKinley whose goal was to avoid war at all costs was coming under more and more pressure from Congress to respond to the violence and to protect American interests in Cuba. Teddy Roosevelt and other ultra patriotic Americans known as jingoes saw the conflict in Cuba as the perfect opportunity to acquire Spain's

colonies and extend the power of the US. War Fever was beginning to grip the United States. The tiny island of Key West just 90 miles from Cuba was becoming the center of operations for support of the Cuban revolution. The island's proximity to Cuba made it an ideal hub for running contraband guns and supplies to the Cuban insurgents and illegal but highly popular activity known as filibustering. In March of 1897 after a particularly large delivery of guns and explosives. Spain demanded that the United States put a stop to these filibustering expedition. In response to that president of the United States and secretary of the Navy decided to send the battleship Maine to Key West and some other naval vessels to survey the coast. And to

interfere in these filibustering expeditions wherever they could. So he came here to keep peace. To keep United States citizens. An. Ever growing. And ever more violent conflict between Spain. And Cuban insurgent insurgents on the island of Cuba. Charles Dwight Sigsbee was in command of the Maine at the time she was dispatched to Key West an impressive figure with its long the stash and impeccable attire. Captain Sigsbee had acquired a reputation in the Navy for coolness under pressure that got commendations his coolness under stress. He prided himself on he used to say in his letters to my grandmother when she'd say I suppose you feel very anxious or something. He would say. He would reply. I never feel they've prided himself in that.

At the same time that Captain Sigsbee was setting the mains course to Key West. The butcher General Weyler was recalled to Madrid and a more moderate general named Blanco was sent as his replacement. General Blanco immediately put an end to the recounts and tried o plan. But it was too late. An estimated 100000 Cubans had already died in the camps. The Cubans who survived had no farms to return to. Worse yet many of the young Spaniards in Cuba were furious that their glorious leader General waiter had been removed. This group of military dissidents became known as whale rights. In January of 1898 riots broke out and Havana blamed on the hot head waiter writes. The American consul in Havana general Fitzhugh Lee cabled Washington imploring that a battleship be sent to protect Americans living in Havana. President McKinley reluctantly thought of the Maine.

There was a rumor aboard one of the ships a couple of weeks ago that we were to proceed to Havana but the order was postponed. I was thinking of making out a will when I heard that. Thomas Troy co-pastor. Captain Sigsbee received his orders the evening of January 24th 1898. Proceed to have them at the cable read and make a friendly call with his customary coolness. Captain Sigsbee ordered the main to steam up and head south. They made their way slowly so as not to arrive in Havana too early Sigsbee wanted the city to be alive and on its feet for the arrival of the battleship Maine. Captain zigs being had and made sure that other men looked great. They were on deck. Every flag was flying.

He slowed her speed as they approached the harbor entrance giving the entire city and anyone in there that wanted to see them would certainly see them coming. Although the main was officially on a friendly visit cruising in under the guns of L. morrow made the entire crew on easy. The men. Were. Very concerned. They were worried about the reception they would receive. In fact. Live ammunition had been brought up on the deck. Captain Sigsbee had ordered. Live ammunition stored within the gun turrets so that the Spanish and the harbor authorities could not see it but they were ready for action. They had no idea how they were kind of going to be received. On a harbor pilot boat cautiously approached the main the guard her tour

Morey. When the pilot came on board he was shaking. Like a leaf. And he brought the main them inching down this long passageway into the harbor and inching inching. Crowds by this time were lining this passage way on either side. And. Imagine the tension because this is hostile territory. Really really hostile to it. And finally they got to the harbor and they led him to one particular moorings. Which has been speculated about. Whether that particular morning might not of mind but who knows. The main now safely tethered two or more and the cannons fired a ritual salute to the flag of Spain. The main had arrived in Havana.

Without incident. The reaction of the Spaniards to the arrival of the Maine was lukewarm at best. Captain Sigsbee paid his respects to all the necessary dignitaries. Then open the ship up to receive visitors during the day. He denied the enlisted man shore leave for the duration of their visit in Havana feeling the presence of American sailors would not mix well with the tensions on shore. Security was tightened and extra safety precautions were taken on board the main. By the looks of things now I think we'll have some trouble before we leave. We're in a pretty dangerous position at the present time and we hardly know when we are safe. Sending my best love and wishes to all and hoping that I may be alive to see you all again.

I remain your loving Son. Charles Hamilton. Ship's Apprentice. Captain Sigsbee was aware. That there was an element in Havana. That strongly opposed the battleship Maine being there. There were warning leaflets being distributed in the area in the city of Venice that said the battle ship would be destroyed as would the American government if you decided to invade Cuba. There is a lot of. Effort made to be sure the main was kept protected there was extra watches put on there is constant. Observation of visitors aboard ship to be sure there was no brain of any kind of munitions aboard anything along that line. The longer the Maine was in Havana Harbor the less tense the situation was towards last the men were expecting to be able to leave Havana without incident.

We are a little afraid here but I think we will go to New Orleans next week. Thomas Troy. Cole passing. After being restricted for three weeks aboard a steel battleship in the heat of the tropics. The crew of the Maine was looking forward to leaving Havana and proceeding to New Orleans where they were to preside over the Mardi Gras festivities. The date was February 15th 1898. The sun had just set on the Mother's Day. The notes from punk you were there. As the senators retired to their hammocks for the night. Q.

Around 9:40 the men aboard the main felt a shudder followed by a massive explosion in Baghdad and sadly when hard there was confusion everywhere. The men aboard a ship who had survived the initial blast. Or anything else for the killing and where they thought things should be all the while trying to find their way out of the ship. Major crisis. The explosion was so violent that it actually moved the other ships in the harbor physically pushing the. Captain Sigsbee was in the rear of the ship where the officers quarters were located. Finishing a letter to his wife when the explosion occurred. His first thought was that the main was under attack. He felt his way in the docks along the corridor to the main deck. Once there he found a handful of his officers standing in a daze as explosions continued around them.

I had to wade in water up to my knees and almost instantly the quarterdeck was awash. On the poop I found Captain Sig's me as cool as if at a ball. Lieutenant John Blanda. Out there I get it stank. I felt myself turning over and over falling heavily upon the deck through a mass of smoke. I got on my feet and worked my way on the deck. When I got there the superstructure deck was dipping underwater and I jumped overboard to keep from being drawn down in the suction. Jim Rowe ship's cook. Michael Blow is a descendant of one of the officers on board the man. His grandfather Lieutenant George Preston blow survived the explosion on the morning of February 16th. He somehow managed to find time to write what he said was the. Weather way which are paid out by the Spanish brought up by mining or whether the Cubans did it

to bring on a war or whether it was one of those spontaneous explosions. We do not know. Lieutenant George Preston blow. The majority of the crew were in their hammocks in the bow of the ship at the time of the explosion. Two hundred and fifty men died instantly. Some of their bodies crushed a less than a half inch and the remaining men were hurled into the harbor. The Wreck of the main quickly sank to rest on the harbor bottom. The top deck now even with the surrounding waters. Search and rescue operations were launched immediately to pull survivors out of the water. Brazil Rodrigues Sierra is the granddaughter of one of the Habana harbor pilots who assisted in the rescue the day of the tragedy of the Maine. A spontaneous rescue operation took place right after the disaster. The local people that resided along the bay pilots and fishermen all joined forces to

rescue the survivors and later to retrieve the bodies of. My grandfather who was one of the most important pilots in the bank. Also joining us. And as usual he brought along my uncle. Who at the time was 13 or 14 years old. I was always in the company of my grandfather because he was being trained to become a pilot. Also. It seems that the boy became traumatized by experience of seeing so many dead bodies floating in the ME because one night shortly after the recovery effort started he came home with a very high fever. He became delirious. Peter would not receive in a few days after that he died. It was a terrible tragedy as my mother would tell us.

My father had told her about the terrifying image of the bodies floating in the back. It was shocking for everyone. The saddest part that will always stay with our family. Was the death of my uncle caused by the vision of it. As the search for survivors continued in the days after the explosion an unlikely rescue occurred. The ship's mascot was found huddling in the wreckage. As for Tom the ship's cat Tom was also friends. They went back to the to the ship. Much of the superstructure remained above water and they found that he had been hiding for three days from Terra. But they found him and got it. The night of the explosion Sigsbee sent a telegram to Key West but the main had been

destroyed. Two hundred sixty six of his crew died as a result of the explosion. Only 88 survived. 6b urged that public opinion be suspended until further report. But the New York yellow journalist went wild with speculation. Remember the main down with Spain became the journal's exuberant new war cry as circulation passed the 1 million mark. Despite the increasing clamor from Congress and the American public President McKinley refused to make any decisions until the U.S. Court of Inquiry had completed a full investigation. Back in Cuba and the elaborate funeral procession for the mains dead crew members piled its way through the streets of Havana the Colombo cemetery where the bodies were buried. One month later. The court of inquiry completed its investigation.

The main disaster resulted from the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the ship. Read the official report. MacKinlay could no longer quell the public clamor for vengeance. Congress officially declared war on Spain on April 25th 1898 and the call for volunteers went out. The Spanish-American War truly was a splendid little war for the US. The Spaniards weakened by decades of fighting Cuban insurgents were easy targets. More American soldiers died from contracting tropical diseases than died on the battlefield. The whole conflict was over in less than four months. As a result of the Spanish-American War America would gain control of

Cuba Puerto Rico the Philippines Guam and the whole y and islands. These acquisitions instantly catapulted the United States into World power status. The strategic ownership of these islands would play a major role in the global expansion of the US. Now operating alleys calling bases around the world we had a worldwide Navy. As resolve had a white navy we could now have a world wide commercial fleet which meant the United States could now expand commercially around the world. That's one of the most important aspects of the war that made the United States into not only a world military power but a world commercial power. But one of the main that fateful ship that started it all the catalyst to American expansionism at the turn of the century. The twisted wreck of the Maine sat for Lauren Lee in Havana Harbor throughout the war and for another decade after the peace treaties were signed. The record set in that harbor. Passed out of the water half under the water

rusting away for. 11 11 years. 12 years. It was an eyesore. It was in the way of shipping and harbor. The Cubans didn't want it there. People in the United States of course they wanted it brought back mostly and their reverence for the people that died on it and their bodies were still in the wrecked. Over 65 bodies of crewmembers were still entombed in the wreck of the Maine. Their shipmates who had originally been buried in Cologne cemetery and have Ana had been brought back to the US and buried at Arlington Cemetery at the end of the war. Patriotic groups pressed hard for the recovery of these remaining bodies so they could be properly interred in American soil. In 1909 Congress began to appropriate funds to raise the Maine. The Army Corps of Engineers was assigned the formidable task of reef floating the battleship.

The engineers came up with the idea of building a car for Dan.. A cofferdam is an enclosure that you put in the water to hold the water back while you. Lower the water inside the coffer. And of course you have to remember this ship was larger than a football field so. The cofferdam. Had to be constructed. Watertight. And structurally capable of holding back those formidable forces of water and mud. And men had to work in the side of that cofferdam. So it can't fail if that cofferdam fails. Everyone inside is killed. So it was a very very critical. Construction project. The cofferdam consisted of 20 interlocking cylinders filled with clay and gravel. The 400 foot cofferdam the biggest one ever built was completed in six

months. In June of 1911 the engineers began pumping out the water slowly exposing the wreck of the main. A second Navy investigation was launched to examine the battleship for new evidence as to the cause of the explosion. After exhaustive study the board concurred with the initial findings of the first court of inquiry. The main exploded due to an external mine. Inside the main. Bones and human remains were found and personal effects were also salvaged. Certain parts were salvaged to be used for monuments around the country. The congressmen enjoyed given their constituents a piece of the main that they could. Show it off in their town as a memorial. There was one gun turret where they took the the guns off of the old record.

And these were the 10 inch guns and they were removed intact they weighed twenty nine tons each. And they were taken up and given to the Cuban government and supposedly the purpose of giving them to the Cuban government was to build a monument. To the main in the city of Havana. That monument featuring the guns of the main was erected in Havana overlooking the harbor where the ship was destroyed. A little worse for wear the monument still stands today a testament to the fallen crewman of the Maine. Once the water inside the cofferdam was pumped out the mains twisted bow was cut off and the wooden bulkhead attached. The water was then slowly added back into the cofferdam. And the mane began to float again for the first time in 14 years.

On March 16th 1912 the main prepared for her final mission a ceremonial re sinking in the open sea. Her deck strewn with roses and the huge American flag secured to a makeshift mast. The main was escorted out of Ana Harbor spectators thronged the waterfront to watch the Maine take her final journey. She was towed three miles out into international waters. Then a little bit further until the ship was over a deep trench and then as they were playing the Star-Spangled Banner and as they played Taps. The main song. It took 41 minutes for the main to saying. That no explosives were used. It was just gently sung. She

were sunk at about 650 fathoms of water. And that's where she still lives today. The mysteries of the main scene forever laid to rest until 1976 when Navy Admiral Hyman Rickover published his book on how the battleship Maine was destroyed. His interest piqued by the unsolved mystery. Admiral Rickover felt that the knowledge amassed over the years on the effects of explosions on steel ships could be freshly applied to the evidence on the mains explosion. He called on the Navy's finest experts to work on the project. Dana Wagner a Navy curator of ship's models was on Rickover his team. I was a historical researcher for Admiral Rickover at the time. So when he asked us what we knew about the maine and to tell him what we could find out about the mainland

rushing to the National Archives he found all the books and everything that we could get our hands on as fast as possible and report back to him on exactly what was no one up till that time about the loss of the ship. Rick over his team applied modern scientific methods to the old photographs and testimonies from the mains to investigations. The major conclusion that our team reached was that there was no evidence that anything outside the ship exploded in costly ammunition on more than main exploded. What we believe probably happened was that the coal dust in the bottom of of one of the bunkers adjacent to the six inch reserve magazine heated up for probably rather white hot temperature slowly ate a small hole through the wall between the coal bunker and the magazine and was able to transmit heat either through it its own transmission powers or through radiation high enough to start the ammunition in the forward part of the ship exploding by itself.

Another About seventy two thousand pounds of brown prismatic powder in the front. Magazines of the main We believe only 14 to 20 percent of the heading out are exploded. So it was not nearly the entire amount of ammunition on board the front part of the ship. It was only a fraction of it but that enough was enough. That alone was enough to blow the front of the ship open like a tin can being run over by a railroad locomotive. Since the mid-seventies the Rickover report has been widely accepted as the leading theory on the true cause of the main explosion. Spontaneous combustion and coal bunkers was a common problem in the early steel battleships munitions were often stored adjacent to the coal bunkers adding to the potential danger the stored coal in the main was monitored by a heat sensing alarm system. And the bunkers were inspected daily. As the crew walked along the narrow passage ways the man would have been actually placed their

hands along the bunker bulkheads checking for telltale signs of heat. Some historians dispute Rickover his findings stating that failure by the crew to detect a coal bunker fire would be highly unlikely. The fact is this. Suspect marker which cannot be the work of the court was open on three sides and. Through menus or the Congo lounging place. If it had been. Because of people they certainly would have noticed a. Condition that was what was expected was today. So all in all if it was difficult to believe that he was going to let. Sword. Mystery surrounds the explosion and land in fact its move past history too. Much and in many. Studies that I've done the research and turned and everything I've read. Suggests to

me that the battleship Maine. Was exploded. By a Marine in mind who was sacked in Havana Harbor. Even those who believe that the main was a victim of treachery. Can't agree when it comes to naming the guilty party. Although no one ever stepped forward to claim responsibility. Many groups had the motive to blow up the main. The Cuban insurgents may have done it in an attempt to coax America into their war. The hot head waiter Rice might have blown up the ship as a message to the Yankee imperialists. William Randolph Hearst had been accused of destroying the ship to increase circulation. To this day school children in Cuba are taught that America blew up its own ship just for the excuse to expand its borders. The Spaniards who were originally blamed for the explosion had the least again.

And in retrospect have almost entirely been. Absolved. She would always respond if this mystery and this legend has met and that thanks for great credit I have been a great credit to United States and the people of the United States especially those men who died on the battleship in that horrible explosion February of 1890. The Cuban research vessel Ulysses is unlike any other ship in Cuba. She has been specially outfitted for an extraordinary mission. To locate and recover deep water targets in the trenches surrounding the island country. Cuba has a long

history as a part of called Combined with treacherous currents and the unique coastal geology has created an underwater museum of multiple shipwrecks peppered all of the Cuban shoreline. Paulina's alecky is the leader of the international team of scientists committed to searching and studying Cuba's deep waters. Born in Russia. So let's he had come to Cuba in 1067 as part of a Soviet team of scientists. Now a Canadian citizen. So let's get was approached by Cuba once again this time to help them explore their own deep waters. She formed a team of young Cuban engineers aided by scientists from around the world including American Scientists. So let's piece on Bernie De Palma's has been involved with the project from the beginning. Cuba doesn't have the technology to explore their waters. They lack the

funds to pay for the technologies that are now available. Cuba has. The. The heart. And the manpower and the personnel that want to learn and want to do this type of work but they they simply don't have access to the technologies or the funds that are required to possess those technologies. You know I want to believe that we will get better that I look at you I never expected to be doing something like this. This is a job that requires a lot of study work and personal effort. It keeps you constantly active. You never find a minute to rest because there is only something to learn or to do. It's very labor intensive work. Well. I don't know yet but it is a unique opportunity indeed one that I never dreamed would come my way. And be made a lot of thought out to me this is a journey of discovery the search for sunken ships and the practice of archaeology in deep water are some real challenging

adventures. But what truly makes this quest so exciting is the technology that we're using. I mean what I mean about that is on the you know deepwater exploration is an extremely difficult undertaking. In many ways. More is known about the surface of the moon than about the bottom of the ocean. The incredible pressure is related with these depths along with below freezing temperatures and utter darkness make deep water exploration a highly technical and expensive process. Originally designed to be a fishing trawler the Ulysses was converted to a Cuban scientific research vessel in 1987. But to effectively function and deep water search and recovery the Ulysses had to be re outfitted with the latest technology including acoustic positioning

equipment a deepwater towing survey system and an underwater remotely operated vehicle or ROV. All the systems must work together to accurately find targets on the ocean floor. The team decided that their first mission would be to locate the wreckage of the battleship Maine. The unusual wedge shape but the main and abundance of historical photos made the main and ideal test subject for their new equipment. No one knew exactly where the where the main was. They know that it was towed out from MRO castle and they knew that it was. Re sunk in about 600 fathoms. But they didn't know how far it might possibly have drifted in and back in one thousand twelve. It wasn't really. That in have g PSN global positioning systems then so no one knew the exact location.

The first step is to isolate the area to be searched 18 floors through historical records to determine what area to investigate. The historical records that we have and that you can find anywhere state that she was told directly out for moral Cassell other state that she was towed out. Aside a certain bearing. But what's really the most important to remember and to understand is that there are dark currents outside of Cuba. Frank Muller Karger a marine scientist from the University of South Florida has worked aboard the Ulysses studying the strong currents surrounding Cuba. It's not surprising that the Maine could have drifted some from the point it was lost when the were the last sighting was made because there are some very strong currents off the coast of Cuba that's the whole gulf stream system something that is sinking and these strong currents can drift some distance and even if Depends on what it is can

be dragged along the bottom. After plodding and 11 square mile testing zone a tethered toadfish was released and dragged behind the ship. The tow fish contains a magnetometer to help detect metal signatures and the side scan sonar system. The side scan the Met sound waves through the water which reflect off objects on the ocean floor. Painting a picture of what lies beneath the ship. You analyze a side scan records and you try to determine. What are manmade objects what reflections you get back that don't seem natural that don't look natural. You know you know nature has a way of. Round edges and smooth items and you know things looking natural. And what we're looking for is more man made objects. Square corners straight lines you know objects that look like they're out of place they don't really belong there.

The images from the side scan feed into the ship's computer while the special become numb the Tovarish tells the ship's positioning equipment the exact location of the tow fish. After interpret ing the side scan images dozens of potential targets are mapped. Many of these are doubtless ships that failed to successfully navigate Cuba's perilous currents or that succumb to the attacks of bandits. The team begins to focus on one oddly shaped target. I have a very strong suspicion that that wreck was going to be the main because the shape of the target. We we kind of we nicknamed it square because that the target itself from the side scan. Sonar had a very square shape to it. And it had to it looked like one part of the. Of the target. Had been cut. And. To me. It seemed like a very

unnatural shape that was there. The decision is made to send out the ROV to investigate the square. The ROV is a tethered on to water robot equipped with lights cameras and a multi-functional arm capable of picking up small objects controlled by a joystick operating the ROV is much like playing a very expensive video game I would say that if I was on the wing I mean that I feel a bit too late. There is a lot of stress involved in the weapon that we're talking about a piece of equipment that cost half a million dollars and you can't lose it like I'm going to let it go away even though you may get swept away by emotion when you find things that you have struggled and labored so hard to find that you can never lose focus on keeping the ROV save the people taken away. Thank. The ROV is housed in a garage of sorts. The entire unit is lowered into the water

and the ROV motors out of its metal retaining frame capable of exploring depths up to twenty five hundred meters or over one and a half miles. The ROV heads towards today's talk and. The square. Resting two thirds of a mile down. I wasn't expecting it to come on so quickly and the vehicle had only been in the water about I think 5 10 minutes before we actually started seen. Images of the rock on the screen. That's. What I thought oh yes yes yes. Yes. In the beginning nobody agreed. For the majority of us it was not the main you know

Gale It was like it must be I think the person that insisted the most that it was the main was Polina. She always said it was the main line of it. Everybody I get this need because when I first know what is this that I cut. I shouts of it was me and everybody. Was me. Now the. Disagreements are temporarily cast aside as the ROV operator signals to the crew that there is a problem in. The garage for the ROV is not responding to the command to

recoil. The tether and bring the ROV back to the ship. We had 33 of them separate from the 1500 meters. We would have ready for it. Well we knew that. As the ROV breaks the surface the team springs into action to recover the costly equipment. Think that. With the ROV now safely on the deck of the Ulysses the team analyzes the video of the wreck below them.

It is indeed the battleship Maine. Strong currents had carried her over half a mile east from the location of her ceremonial re sinking in 1912. We confirmed the wreck as the US main by going through. A lot of. Archival photographs. Articles. Drying. Old film footage. This ready will preserve live it quite surprised to see how well it was this or. The main has been preserved very well in these deeper waters off Cuba. The waters are relatively cold. And the same. And you probably have very low old biological activity as opposed to the ship being a shallower depth and so the view the environmental conditions are just better to preserving materials at that depth

off of Cuba. The Cubans consider the main U.S. property and still today. And they have respect for that. It's sort of a neutral ground that has common history and it's common positive history for both sides so I think it's a good place. We're. Scientists and researchers can rally around without getting tangled into today's politics and. And go on down to positive themes off from there. And while there will be more actual along when I was growing up we discussed the mania in school as something that was part of history that nobody could ever see again. But we had the opportunity to be right in front of it almost to touch it through our equipment. That was a sensation like no other. Something that will stay with me forever. When we. Sang this is our international responsibility it's not a responsibility a one man

and nation. And a shared responsibility. The best and the best way of doing it together. The mystery of who blew up the Maine. Will never definitively be solved. The Hulk that remains holds no new clues as to the cause of the disaster. To many the Rickover report laid the question to rest over 25 years ago. To others. The explosion of the main was America's first experience with faceless terrorists and. An act of violence. That forever changed a young nation. Regardless of its source. The explosion of the main rally the whole

country behind a cause. Bitter feelings left over from the Civil War were forgotten. America. Was a country united. For the first time. And while the chain of events that followed the destruction of the main reshape the entire world. This unity. Was the greatest gift received from the sacrifice. Of the brave crew. Of the battleship Maine.