The Story of USS Cyclops – The U.S Navy Ship Lost without Trace

The disappearance of the USS Cyclops and her 306-member crew in 1918 remains one of the greatest unsolved maritime mysteries of all time.

The incident also marks the single biggest loss of life in US Naval History, not directly involving combat at sea. Despite several U.S. Navy investigations, nobody knows what happened to this ship or where it went.

However, this article will discuss some possible theories. First, let’s explore the ship’s background and technical specifications.

Background of the USS Cyclops

USS Cyclops was a proteus-class collier constructed by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company, Philadelphia for the U.S. Navy. She was named after the Cyclops, one-eyed giants mentioned in Greek mythology. She was the second US Naval ship to have this name.

In the 20th century, naval warships were powered by coal, not fuel oil. Ships such as the Nevada, New York-class battleships, and Montgomery-class cruisers depended on colliers to keep them steaming. Colliers transported thousands of tonnes of coal in a single journey. Using clamshell buckets, they could transport around 2 tonnes to the decks of other vessels.

USS Cyclops displaced 19,360 tons when fully loaded with coal. Though its job was simple, it was not mechanised, and operating it was labour-intensive, requiring a crew of over 300. Cyclops was 540 feet long and 65 feet wide and could attain a speed of 15 knots.

Operational History of USS Cyclops

Cyclops entered service in 1910 and operated with the Naval Auxiliary Service, Atlantic Fleet. The following year, she traversed the Baltic to supply naval ships and returned to Norfolk, Virginia. After that, she operated from Newport, Rhode Island, to the Caribbean. When the U.S. occupied Veracruz, Mexico, in 1914-1915, she supplied coal to ships patrolling the region and helped evacuate the refugees.

When the U.S. declared war on Germany and its allies in 1917, support ships like the Cyclops came under naval command and became key assets. The administrative changes affected its crew, as now, instead of civilians, it was operated by naval officers.

She was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service in 1918. She then ventured into Brazilian waters to power British vessels in the South Atlantic.

USS Cyclops’ Last Voyage

Her last mission was on 28 January 1918, when Cyclops transported 9960 tonnes of coal to the South American Patrol Squadron in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

She spent a few days unloading her cargo and picked up a cargo for her return voyage, comprising around 11,000 tonnes of manganese ore, a metal used to produce iron and steel, as U.S. entry into war spurred demand for raw materials needed for war prod…

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