Great White Fleet
The "Great White Fleet" sent aroundworld by President ofUnited States Theodore Roosevelt from December 16, 1907,February 22, 1909, consistedsixteen new battleships ofAtlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white exceptgilded scrollwork on their bows. The Atlantic Fleet battleships only later camebe known as"Great White Fleet."The fourteen-monthvoyage wasgrand pageantAmerican sea power. The squadrons were manned by 14,000 sailors. They covered some 43,000 milesmade twenty port calls on six continents.
The battleships were accompanied duringfirst legtheir voyage by"Torpedo Flotilla"six early destroyers, as well as by several auxiliary ships. The destroyerstheir tender did not actually steamcompany withbattleships, but followed their own itinerary from Hampton Roads, VirginiaSan Francisco, California. Two battleships were detached fromfleet at San Francisco,two others substituted.
WithUSS Connecticut (BB-18) as flagship undercommandRear Admiral Robley D. Evans,fleet sailed from Hampton Roads on December 16, 1907,Trinidad, British West Indies, thenceRio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sandy Point, Chile; Callao, Peru; Magdalena Bay, Mexico,upwest coast, arriving at San Francisco, May 6, 1908.
Afterarrival offleet offwest coast,USS Glacier was detachedlater becamesupply ship ofPacific Fleet. At this time also,USS Nebraska, Captain Reginald F. Nicholson, andUSS Wisconsin, Captain Frank E. Beatty, were substituted forUSS MaineUSS Alabama.
At San Francisco, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry assumed command ofFleet, owing topoor healthAdmiral Evans. Leaving that port on July 7, 1908,U.S. Atlantic Fleet visited Honolulu; Auckland, New Zealand; SydneyMelbourne, Australia; Manila, Philippines; Yokohama, Japan; Colombo, Ceylon; arriving at Suez, Egypt, on January 3, 1909.
In Egypt, word was receivedan earthquakeSicily, thus affording an opportunity forUnited Statesshow its friendshipItaly by offering aid tosufferers. Connecticut, Illinois, Culgoa,Yankton were dispatchedMessina at once. The crewIllinois recoveredbodies ofAmerican consulhis wife, entombed inruins.
USS Scorpion,Fleet's station ship at Constantinople,USS Celtic,refrigerator ship fitted outNew York, were hurriedMessina, relieving ConnecticutIllinois, so thatcould continue oncruise.
Leaving Messina on January 9, 1909,Fleet stopped at Naples, Italy, thenceGibraltar, arriving at Hampton Roads on February 22, 1909. There President Roosevelt reviewedFleet aspassed intoroadstead.
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2 Second Leg 3 Third Leg |
The First Leg
from Hampton RoadsSan Francisco, 14,556 milesItinerary
| Port | Arrival | Departure | DistanceNext Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Roads, Virginia | December 16, 1907 | 1803 miles | |
| PortSpain, Trinidad | December 23, 1907 | December 29, 1907 | 3399 miles |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | January 12, 1908 | January 21, 1908 | 2374 miles |
| Punta Arenas, Chile | February 1, 1908 | February 7, 1908 | 2838 miles |
| Callao, Peru | February 20, 1908 | February 29, 1908 | 3010 miles |
| Magdalena Bay, Mexico | March 12, 1908 | April 11, 1908 | 1132 miles |
| San Francisco, California | May 6, 1908 |
Ships
The Fleet, First Squadron,First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans. First Division consistedUSS Connecticut (BB-18),Fleet's flagship, Captain Hugo Osterhaus, USS Kansas (BB-21), Captain Charles E. Vreeland, USS Vermont (BB-20), Captain William P. Potter, and USS Louisiana (BB-19), Captain Richard Wainwright.Second Division was commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory. Second Division consistedUSS Georgia (BB-15),Division flagship, Captain Henry McCrea, USS New Jersey (BB-16), Captain William H. H. Southerland, USS Rhode Island (BB-17), Captain Joseph B. Murdock, and USS Virginia (BB-13), Captain Seaton Schroeder.
Second SquadronThird Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas. Third Division consisted of USS Minnesota (BB-22),Squadron flagship, Captain John Hubbard, USS Maine (BB-10), Captain Giles B. Harber, USS Missouri (BB-11), Captain Greenlief A. Merriam, and USS Ohio (BB-12), Captain Charles W. Bartlett.
Fourth Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry. Fourth Division consistedUSS Alabama (BB-8),Division flagship, Captain Ten Eyck De Witt Veeder, USS Illinois (BB-7), Captain John M. Bowyer, USS Kearsarge (BB-5), Captain Hamilton Hutchins, and USS Kentucky (BB-6), Captain Walter C. Cowles.
The Fleet Auxiliaries consisted of USS Culgoa (a storeship), Lieutenant Commander John B. Patton, USS Glacier (a storeship), Commander William S. Hogg, USS Panther (a repair ship), Commander Valentine S. Nelson, USS Yankton (a tender), Lieutenant Walter R. Gherardi, and USS Relief (a hospital ship).
The "Torpedo Flotilla"destroyers consisted of USS Hopkins, Lieutenant Alfred G. Howe, USS Stewart, Lieutenant Julius F. Hellweg, USS Hull, Lieutenant Frank McCommon, USS Truxton, Lieutenant Charles S. Kerrick, USS Lawrence, Lieutenant Ernest Friedrick, USS Whipple, Lieutenant Hutch I. Cone, and USS Arethusa (a tender), Commander Albert W. Grant.
Second Leg
from San FranciscoPuget SoundbackThe Fleet, First Squadron,First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry. First Division consisted of USS Connecticut (BB-18),Fleet's flagship, Captain Hugo Osterhaus USS Kansas (BB-21), Captain Charles E. Vreeland USS Minnesota (BB-22), Captain John Hubbard USS Vermont (BB-20), Captain William P. Potter
Second Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright. Second Division consisted of USS Georgia (BB-15),Division flagship, Captain Edward F. Qualtrough, USS Nebraska (BB-14), Captain Reginald F. Nicholson, USS New Jersey (BB-16), Captain William H.H. Southerland, and USS Rhode Island (BB-17), Captain Joseph B. Murdock.
Second SquadronThird Division were commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory. Third Division consisted of USS Louisiana (BB-19),Squadron's flagship, Captain Kossuth Niles, USS Virginia (BB-13), Captain Alexander Sharp, USS Missouri (BB-11), Captain Robert M. Doyle, and USS Ohio (BB-12), Captain Thomas B. Howard.
Fourth Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder. Fourth Division consisted of USS Wisconsin (BB-9),Division flagship, Captain Frank E. Beatty, USS Illinois (BB-7), Captain John M. Bowyer, USS Kearsarge (BB-5), Captain Hamilton Hutchins, and USS Kentucky (BB-6), Captain Walter C. Cowles.
The Fleet Auxiliaries were USS Culgoa (a storeship), Lieutenant Commander John B. Patton, USS Yankton (a tender), Lieutenant Commander Charles B. McVay, USS Glacier (a storeship), Commander William S. Hogg, USS Relief (a hospital ship), Surgeon Charles F. Stokes, and USS Panther (a repair ship), Commander Valentine S. Nelson.
Third Leg
from San FranciscoManila, 16,336 milesItinerary
| Port | Arrival | Departure | DistanceNext Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, California | July 7, 1908 | 2126 miles | |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | July 16, 1908 | July 22, 1908 | 3870 miles |
| Auckland, New Zealand | August 9, 1908 | August 15, 1908 | 1307 miles |
| Sydney, Australia | August 20, 1908 | August 28, 1908 | 601 miles |
| Melbourne, Australia | August 29, 1908 | September 5, 1908 | 1368 miles |
| Albany, Australia | September 11, 1908 | September 18, 1908 | 3458 miles |
| Manila, Philippine Islands | October 2, 1908 | October 9, 1908 | 1795 miles |
| Yokohama, Japan | October 18, 1908 | October 25, 1908 | 1811 miles |
| Amoy, China (Second Squadron) |
October 29, 1908 | November 5, 1908 | |
| Manila, Philippine Islands (First Squadron) |
October 31, 1908 | ||
| Manila, Philippine Islands (Second Squadron) |
November 7, 1908 |
Ships
The Fleet, First Squadron,First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.First Division consisted of USS Connecticut (BB-18),Fleet's flagship, Captain Hugo Osterhaus, USS Kansas (BB-21), Captain Charles E. Vreeland, USS Minnesota (BB-22), Captain John Hubbard, and USS Vermont (BB-20), Captain William P. Potter.
The Second Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright. Second Division consisted of USS Georgia (BB-15),Division flagship, Captain Edward F. Qualtrough, USS Nebraska (BB-14), Captain Reginald F. Nicholson, USS New Jersey (BB-16), Captain William H.H. Southerland, and USS Rhode Island (BB-17), Captain Joseph B. Murdock.
The Second SquadronThird Division were commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory. Third Division consisted of USS Louisiana (BB-19),Squadron flagship, Captain Kossuth Niles, USS Virginia (BB-13), Captain Alexander Sharp, USS Missouri (BB-11), Captain Robert M. Doyle, and USS Ohio (BB-12), Captain Thomas B. Howard.
Fourth Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder. Fourth Division consisted of USS Wisconsin (BB-9),Division flagship, Captain Frank E. Beatty, USS Illinois (BB-7), Captain John M. Bowyer, USS Kearsarge (BB-5), Captain Hamilton Hutchins, and USS Kentucky (BB-6), Captain Walter C. Cowles.
The Fleet Auxiliaries were USS Culgoa (a storeship), Lieutenant Commander John B. Patton, USS Yankton (a tender), Lieutenant Commander Charles B. McVay, USS Glacier (a storeship), Commander William S. Hogg, USS Relief (a hospital ship), Surgeon Charles F. Stokes, and USS Panther (a repair ship), Commander Valentine S. Nelson.
Final Leg
from ManilaHampton Roads, 12,455 milesItinerary
| Port | Arrival | Departure | DistanceNext Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila, Philippine Islands | December 1, 1908 | 2,985 miles | |
| Colombo, Ceylon | December 13, 1908 | December 20, 1908 | 3448 miles |
| Suez, Egypt | January 3, 1909 | January 4 - January 6, 1909 | 2443 miles |
| Gibraltar | January 31 - February 1, 1909 | February 6, 1909 | 3579 miles |
| Hampton Roads, Virginia | February 22, 1909 |
Ships
The Fleet, First Squadron,First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry. First Division consisted of USS Connecticut (BB-18),Fleet's flagship, Captain Hugo Osterhaus, USS Vermont (BB-20), Captain Frank F. Fletcher, USS Kansas (BB-21), Captain Charles E. Vreeland, and USS Minnesota (BB-22), Captain John Hubbard.Second Division was commanded by Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright. Second Division consisted of USS Georgia (BB-15),Division flagship, Captain Edward F. Qualtrough, USS Nebraska (BB-14), Captain Reginald F. Nicholson, USS New Jersey (BB-16), Captain William H. H. Southerland, and USS Rhode Island (BB-17), Captain Joseph B. Murdock.
Second SquadronThird Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder. Third Division consisted of
USS Louisiana (BB-19),Squadron flagship, Captain Kossuth Niles, USS Virginia (BB-13), Captain Alexander Sharp, USS Missouri (BB-11), Captain Robert M. Doyle, and USS Ohio (BB-12), Captain Thomas B. Howard.
Fourth Division was commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory. Fourth Division consisted of USS Wisconsin (BB-9),Division flagship, Captain Frank E. Beatty, USS Illinois (BB-7), Captain John M. Bowyer, USS Kearsarge (BB-5), Captain Hamilton Hutchins, and USS Kentucky (BB-6), Captain Walter C. Cowles.
The Fleet Auxiliaries were USS Culgoa (a storeship), Lieutenant Commander John B. Patton, USS Yankton (a tender), Lieutenant Commander Charles B. McVay, and USS Panther (a repair ship), Commander Valentine S. Nelson.
