The first U.S. battleship ever built was launched in 1889 but lasted less than 9 years

Find out the Final Jeopardy Answer for the episode airing on Thursday, July 13 2023!

Today’s Final Jeopardy Category is: Famous Ships

Today’s contestants are Ittai Sopher and.

Today’s Final Jeopardy

The first U.S. battleship ever built was launched in 1889 but lasted less than 9 years

Final Jeopardy Answer

The Final Jeopardy Answer is: USS Maine

Final Jeopardy Explanation

The USS Maine was the first battleship ever built by the United States and was launched on November 18, 1889.

However, the operational lifespan of the USS Maine was significantly short. On February 15, 1898, while on a friendly visit to Havana, Cuba, an explosion of unknown origin caused the ship to sink in the harbor. This incident led to the death of 266 of the 355 crew members on board at the time.

Numerous investigations have been carried out to determine the cause of the explosion, but it remains unclear. At the time, the sinking was perceived as a hostile act against the United States, escalating tensions with Spain and leading to the Spanish-American War in April 1898.

The USS Maine is significant in U.S. naval history as the country’s first battleship, marking a new era in naval warfare and signifying the United States’ emergence as a global power.

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