Why did USS Tecumseh sink in only a few minutes after the mine explosion?
Short answerA large underwater breach flooded a major internal space in a low-freeboard monitor with little reserve buoyancy and limited subdivision.
NotesTecumseh sat low in the water and lacked the reserve buoyancy needed to absorb major flooding. A mine opening an engine-room or magazine-sized space therefore admitted enough water to overwhelm the ship quickly. Limited internal subdivision gave the flooding little resistance once the hull was breached. More than one mine may have contributed, although that possibility remains unresolved.