USS Stein Monster

The USS Stein Monster was a creature that apparently attacked the Knox-class destroyer escort USS Stein. She was named after Marine Tony Stein, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously after his part in the Battle of Iwo Jima. In 1976, the ship was attacked by an unknown species of giant squid. The creature damaged the "NOFOUL" rubber coating of her AN/SQS-26 SONAR dome. Over 8 percent of the surface coating was damaged. Nearly all of the cuts contained remnants of the curved claws found on the rims of suction cups on some squid's tentacles. The claws were much larger than any reported at that time. It is possibly a giant squid or a colossal squid, although it could very well be a yet-discovered third type of gigantic squid instead.