Great White Fleet

The Great White Fleet sent around the world by President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, consisted of sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white except for gilded scrollwork on their bows. The Atlantic Fleet battleships only later came to be known as the "Great White Fleet."

Related Topics:
President of the United States - Theodore Roosevelt - December 16 - 1907 - February 22 - 1909 - Battleship - Atlantic Fleet

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The fourteen-month long voyage was a grand pageant of American sea power. The squadrons were manned by 14,000 sailors. They covered some 43,000 miles and made twenty port calls on six continents. The fleet was greatly impressive, but technically outdated, as the first few dreadnought battleships had already entered service, and the first dreadnought for the US Navy, South Carolina, was fitting out. The two oldest ships in the fleet, USS Kearsarge and USS Kentucky, were obsolete and unfit for battle; and two others, USS Maine and USS Alabama, had to be detached at San Francisco, California because of mechanical troubles.

Related Topics:
Dreadnought - ''South Carolina'' - USS ''Kearsarge'' - USS ''Kentucky'' - USS ''Maine'' - USS ''Alabama'' - San Francisco, California

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The battleships were accompanied during the first leg of their voyage by a "Torpedo Flotilla" of six early destroyers, as well as by several auxiliary ships. The destroyers and their tender did not actually steam in company with the battleships, but followed their own itinerary from

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Hampton Roads, Virginia to San Francisco, California. Two battleships were detached from the fleet at San Francisco, and two others substituted.

Related Topics:
Hampton Roads - Virginia - San Francisco - California

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With the USS Connecticut (BB-18) as flagship under the command of Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, the fleet sailed from Hampton Roads on December 16, 1907, for Trinidad, British West Indies, thence to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sandy Point, Chile; Callao, Peru; Magdalena Bay, Mexico, and up the west coast, arriving at San Francisco, May 6, 1908.

Related Topics:
USS ''Connecticut'' (BB-18) - Robley D. Evans - December 16 - 1907 - Trinidad - British West Indies - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - Sandy Point - Chile - Callao - Peru - Magdalena Bay - Mexico - May 6 - 1908

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After the arrival of the fleet off the west coast, the USS Glacier was detached and later became the supply ship of the Pacific Fleet. At this time also, the USS Nebraska, Captain Reginald F. Nicholson, and the USS Wisconsin, Captain Frank E. Beatty, were substituted for the USS Maine and USS Alabama.

Related Topics:
USS ''Glacier'' - USS ''Nebraska'' - USS ''Wisconsin'' - USS ''Maine'' - USS ''Alabama''

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At San Francisco, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry assumed command of the Fleet, owing to the poor health of Admiral Evans. Leaving that port on July 7, 1908, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet visited Honolulu; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; Manila, Philippines; Yokohama, Japan; Colombo, Ceylon; arriving at Suez, Egypt, on January 3, 1909.

Related Topics:
Charles S. Sperry - July 7 - 1908 - U.S. Atlantic Fleet - Honolulu - Auckland - New Zealand - Sydney - Melbourne - Australia - Manila - Philippines - Yokohama - Japan - Colombo - Ceylon - Suez - Egypt - January 3 - 1909

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In Egypt, word was received of an earthquake in Sicily, thus affording an opportunity for the United States to show its friendship to Italy by offering aid to the sufferers. Connecticut, Illinois, Culgoa, and Yankton were dispatched to Messina, Italy at once. The crew of Illinois recovered the bodies of the American consul and his wife, entombed in the ruins.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Sicily - United States - Italy - Messina, Italy

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USS Scorpion, the Fleet's station ship at Constantinople, and USS Celtic, a refrigerator ship fitted out in New York, were hurried to Messina, relieving Connecticut and Illinois, so that they could continue on the cruise.

Related Topics:
USS ''Scorpion'' - Constantinople - USS ''Celtic'' - New York - Messina

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Leaving Messina on January 9, 1909, the Fleet stopped at Naples, Italy, thence to Gibraltar, arriving at

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1909 - Naples - Italy - Gibraltar

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Hampton Roads on February 22, 1909.

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1909

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There President Roosevelt reviewed the Fleet as it passed into the roadstead.

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