USS Milwaukee (C-21)

USS Milwaukee (C-21) was a St. Louis-class protected cruiser in the United States Navy. Laid down in December 1902 and launched in September 1904, she was commissioned in December 1906. She was the second ship of the US Navy to bear the name Milwaukee, after the city in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee served primarily in the Pacific. Initially, she conducted routine patrols and training exercises. During the Mexican Revolution, she saw service off the coast of Mexico, protecting American interests.

Her career was cut short on January 13, 1917, when she ran aground in Humboldt Bay, near Eureka, California, while attempting to assist the submarine H-3, which had also run aground. Efforts to refloat Milwaukee were unsuccessful, and heavy seas ultimately broke the ship apart. All crew members were rescued, and there were no fatalities. The wreck of Milwaukee remains in Humboldt Bay.

She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March 6, 1917. While her service life was relatively short, USS Milwaukee played a part in the era of American naval expansion in the early 20th century and serves as a reminder of the perils of naval operations.