USS Miantonomoh (BM-5)

History of USS Miantonomoh (BM-5)

During the Ten Years' War of 1873-1875, tensions between the United States, Great Britain, and Spain led to a diplomatic incident known as the "Virginias Incident." In response, the United States Navy initiated the development of a new class of warships called the Amphitrite class. Among these ships was the USS Miantonomoh, which played a significant role despite facing challenges due to its outdated design.

USS Miantonomoh, laid down in 1874 under the guise of post-Civil War maintenance for monitors, was launched in 1876 and commissioned into the US Navy in 1882. However, by this time, monitors were becoming obsolete, and Miantonomoh proved to be slow and unstable in rough seas. Despite these drawbacks, the US Navy proceeded with the new design, and Miantonomoh served until 1899, experiencing periods of decommissioning and reactivation.

Miantonomoh participated in the Spanish-American War from 1898 to 1899, contributing to the blockade of Cuba following the sinking of the USS Maine. Its operational limitations, including short range and limited coal supply, became evident during this time. After serving in various capacities until 1907, Miantonomoh was eventually decommissioned and used as a target ship before being scrapped in 1922.

Specification

Basic

Year of Service: 1882

Origins: United States

Status: Stop service

Builder: Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works, Chester, Pennsylvania

Type: Amphitrite class monitor

Characters

Sea Bombing: Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault: Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol: Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence: Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support: Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Flagship/Capital Ship: Take on the role of fleet flagship or capital ship in old battleship design/terminology.

Distinctive Features

Flatten: The hull of the vessel is designed to operate in coastal/shallow water environments.

Main turret: The main armament is mounted in the main turret arrangement providing enhanced protection.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 263.0 feet (80.16 m)

Ray: 55.3 feet (16.86 m)

Draft: 14.5 feet (4.42 m)

Shift: 4,055 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 1 x coal steam engine drives 2 x screws under the stern.

Surface Velocity: 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph)

Weapon

2 x 10" (250 mm) /31 caliber breech-mounted rifled main gun.

2 x 10" (250 mm) /34 caliber breech-mounted rifled main gun.

2 x 4" (100 mm) rifled secondary guns.

2 x 6 pounder tertiary guns. 2 x Hotchkiss guns (optional).