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The loss of USS ''Cyclops'' with all 306 crew and passengers, without a trace, is one of the sea's unsolved mysteries, and is often "credited" to the [[Bermuda Triangle]].  In his 1975 book ''The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved'', author [[Lawrence Kusche]] investigated this mystery. He revealed that in 1968 a Navy diver off Norfolk, Virginia reported finding the wreck of an old ship in about 300 feet of water, stating that the bridge "appeared to be on stilts." He was later shown a picture of the ''Cyclops'' (which had that peculiar bridge structure) and was convinced it was the ship he had seen. This would have put the ''Cyclops'', according to Kusche, within 60 miles of the Virginia Capes and into the teeth of a storm that hit the area on March 9-10, 1918 (this storm was reported to have done extensive damage between Indiana and Washington, D.C.).  The storm, combined with the unusual cargo of manganese, may have sunk her.  However, further expeditions to the alleged wreck site failed to find anything. [http://www.numa.net/expeditions/cyclops.html]

The loss of USS ''Cyclops'' with all 306 crew and passengers, without a trace, is one of the sea's unsolved mysteries, and is often "credited" to the [[Bermuda Triangle]].  In his 1975 book ''The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved'', author [[Lawrence Kusche]] investigated this mystery. He revealed that in 1968 a Navy diver off Norfolk, Virginia reported finding the wreck of an old ship in about 300 feet of water, stating that the bridge "appeared to be on stilts." He was later shown a picture of the ''Cyclops'' (which had that peculiar bridge structure) and was convinced it was the ship he had seen. This would have put the ''Cyclops'', according to Kusche, within 60 miles of the Virginia Capes and into the teeth of a storm that hit the area on March 9-10, 1918 (this storm was reported to have done extensive damage between Indiana and Washington, D.C.).  The storm, combined with the unusual cargo of manganese, may have sunk her.  However, further expeditions to the alleged wreck site failed to find anything. [http://www.numa.net/expeditions/cyclops.html]

Most who link the disappearance to the Bermuda Triangle cite the fact that the vessel disappeared having sent out no distress signal. However, ship-board communications were in their infant stages in 1918, and it would not be unusual for a vessel, sinking fast, to have little or no opportunity at a distress call. [http://byerly.org/BTcyclops_death_list.htm]  To date, no trace of the wreckage has been found.  

Most who link the disappearance to the Bermuda Triangle cite the fact that the vessel disappeared having sent out no distress signal. However, ship-board communications were in their infant stages in 1918, and it would not be unusual for a vessel, sinking fast, to have little or no opportunity at a distress call. [http://byerly.org/BTcyclops_death_list.htm]  To date, no trace of the wreckage has been found.

 

The ''Cyclops'' was the sister ship of USS Jupiter (AC-3), USS Proteus (AC-9), and USS Nereus (AC-10).  ''Proteus'' and ''Nereus'' served in the Navy until decommissioned in 1924, remaining in mothballs until sold to Canadian firms in 1940.  Both were lost at sea from unknown causes in 1941.  ''Jupiter'' was stripped of her coaling booms in 1920 to make room for a wooden flight deck and becoming the Navy's first aircraft carrier, USS ''Langley''.

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==Newspaper References==