USS Cumberland and CSS Florida shipwrecks

 military, ship, shipwreck

The USS Cumberland was a 50-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy. Cumberland was rammed and sunk in an engagement with the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia on the first day of the Battle of Hampton Roads. This is considered to be a turning point in the history of naval warfare -- no longer would sail-powered wooden ships rule the seas.

The famous Confederate blockade runner CSS Florida sank at this location after her capture by Union forces and both historic wrecks lay side by side.

Clive Cussler and his NUMA team documented the wrecks in the late 1980s and several artifacts were removed and are on display at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.

The shipwrecks have suffered significantly over the years due to their shallow depth, the nearby shipbuilding and coal operations and looters.

The lack of interest in any kind of long-term protection of the wrecks by either the Navy or the State of Virginia is a disgrace to the lives lost on the Cumberland and those who served on the Florida.