USS Merrimac

SS Merrimac was a steamship in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. Merrimac was built by Swan Hunter shipyard as SS Solveig in Wallsend England in November 1894. She was purchased by the US Navy in April 1898. Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered her to be sunk as a blockship at the entrance of Santiago Harbor Cuba in an attempt to trap the Spanish fleet in the harbor. On the night of 23 June 1898 eight volunteers attempted to execute this mission but Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by the fire of Spanish land-based howitzers. The American steamer was later sunk by the combined gunfire and the torpedoes of the protected cruiser Vizcaya1 the unprotected cruiser Reina Mercedes and the destroyer Pluton2 without obstructing the harbor entrance. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war.3 After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later the men were released. All eight were awarded Medals of Honor for their part in the mission.