USS Milwaukee
Protected Cruiser · United States · Lost 1917 · San Francisco & the Northern California Coast
A U.S. Navy cruiser wrecked in 1917 while trying to rescue a stranded submarine off Humboldt Bay, in one of the era's most public naval blunders.
The Vessel and Her Loss
USS Milwaukee, a St. Louis-class cruiser built at Union Iron Works, was sent to free the submarine USS H-3 after it grounded on Samoa Beach near Eureka in December 1916. On January 13, 1917, in fog and heavy current, the cruiser herself was driven broadside onto the beach and declared a total loss. All roughly 450 aboard were safely evacuated. The Navy salvaged what machinery it could before selling the hulk; portions remain visible on the beach today.
Vessel
- 1904
- Hull symbol C-21
- Union Iron Works
- San Francisco, California
- Steel
- 426.5 ft
- 66 ft
- 9700
- Steam, vertical triple expansion, twin screw
- United States Navy
Loss
- January 13, 1917
- Grounding
- Samoa Beach, near the entrance to Humboldt Bay, Eureka, California
- Pacific Ocean
- Humboldt Bay approaches
- Not established
- 450
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 0 ft
- Remains of the hull are still visible on Samoa Beach at low tide after Navy salvage and later scrapping.
- Not established
- 2019
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- Samoa Beach, Humboldt Bay, Eureka, California
Beach wreck; no charted offshore position applies.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (85/100)
Naval History and Heritage Command
Stranding narrative, casualties, crew size.
Society for Historical Archaeology (2020 conference paper)
Archaeological survey of wreck remains and salvage camp.
