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Wreck of USS Cairo

United States

Position
About 32.4° N, 90.9° W (within about 10 km)
Sank
—
Cause
—
Depth
—

Protection status

Location generalised to protect a war grave

The position shown is generalised to within about 10 km. The exact position is not published.

A military vessel lost in war, by enemy action. Wrecks lost in war are treated as war graves.

This wreck may be the last resting place of those who died aboard. Please treat it with respect.

How this was decided: Voydar's protection rules, from the sources we hold, confidence 85%. When in doubt, Voydar generalises the position.

USS Cairo is the lead ship of the City-class casemate ironclads built at the beginning of the American Civil War to serve as river gunboats. Cairo is named for Cairo, Illinois. In June 1862, she captured the Confederate garrison of Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River, enabling Union forces to occupy Memphis. As part of the Yazoo Pass Expedition, she was sunk on 12 December 1862, while clearing mines for the attack on Haines Bluff. Cairo was the first ship ever to be sunk by a mine remotely detonated by hand. The remains of Cairo can be viewed at Vicksburg National Military Park with a museum of its weapons and naval stores.

History from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA.

About this wreck

USS Cairo is a recorded shipwreck site. Voydar shows wreck locations alongside live ship traffic, free, from Wikidata and public hydrographic records.

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