#uss proteus

[lonestarbattleship]

USS TACOMA (C-18), USS PROTEUS (AC-9) coaling USS NEW JERSEY (BB-16) with French Conde on left at Veracruz, Mexico.

Photographed in 1914

Maritime Museum of San Diego: N-22726, N-22725

[sepiadays]

The ill-fated Proteus-class colliers. USS Proteus (AC-9) was the lead ship of her class. She disappeared in November 1941. USS Jupiter (AC-3) was converted to the aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV-1) in 1920 and later to a seaplane tender (AV-3) in 1937. She was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in February 1942. USS Cyclops (AC-4) disappeared in March 1918 after a mutiny. USS Nereus (AC-10) disappeared in December 1941.

A reasonable analysis suggests that years of hauling acidic coal compromised the structural integrity of these ships, causing sudden and catastrophic losses. More likely, they were cursed.

[lex-for-lexington]

“USS Proteus (AS-19) entering Thomas Drydock #4 at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, on 18 December 1944.”

(NHHC: NH 93496)

[lex-for-lexington]

Submarine tender USS Proteus at Midway Atoll, with submarines USS Bang, Pintado and Pilotfish alongside, May 1944