Great White Fleet

The Great White Fleet was the name for four squadrons of US Battleship s that made a Circumnavigation of the world from December 16 , 1907 , to February 22 , 1909 .
The sailing was made on the order of the President Of The United States Theodore Roosevelt , who wished to demonstrate to his country and the world that the US Navy was capable of operating in a global theater, particularly in the Pacific. This was extraordinarily important at a time when tensions were slowly growing between the United States and Japan. The latter had recently shown its navy's competence in defeating the Russia ns in the Russo-Japanese War and the US Navy fleet to the west was relatively small.

The fleet consisted of sixteen 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."

The journey was not without risk as the fleet would pass through the Straits Of Magellan as the Panama Canal was not yet complete.

THE FLEET

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 The fleet was greatly impressive, but technically outdated, as the first few Dreadnought battleships had already entered service, and the first dreadnought for the US Navy, ''South Carolina'' , was fitting out.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.

The battleships were accompanied during the first leg of their voyage by a "Torpedo Flotilla" of six early Destroyer s, 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
Hampton Roads , Virginia to San Francisco , California . Two battleships were detached from the fleet at San Francisco, and two others substituted.

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 .

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'' .

At San Francisco, Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry assumed command of the Fleet, owing to the poor health of Admiral Evans. Also at San Francisco, the squadrons were slightly rearranged, bringing the newest and best ships in the fleet up to the First Squadron. 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 .

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.

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.

Leaving Messina on January 9 , 1909 , the Fleet stopped at Naples , Italy , thence to Gibraltar , arriving at
Hampton Roads on February 22 , 1909 .
There President Roosevelt reviewed the Fleet as it passed into the roadstead.

THE FIRST LEG

from Hampton Roads to San Francisco, 14,556 miles

Itinerary

Ships

The Fleet, First Squadron and First Division, were commanded by Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans.
First Division consisted of
USS ''Connecticut'' (BB-18) , the 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 consisted of
USS ''Georgia'' (BB-15) , the 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 Squadron and Third Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles M. Thomas.
Third Division consisted of
USS ''Minnesota'' (BB-22) , the 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 consisted of
USS ''Alabama'' (BB-8) , the 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" of 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 Francisco to Puget Sound and back

The Fleet, First Squadron, and First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.
First Division consisted of
USS ''Connecticut'' (BB-18) , the 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) , the 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 Squadron and Third Division were commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory.
Third Division consisted of
USS ''Louisiana'' (BB-19) , the 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) , the 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 Francisco to Manila, 16,336 miles

Itinerary

Ships

The Fleet, First Squadron, and First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.
First Division consisted of
USS ''Connecticut'' (BB-18) , the 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) , the 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 Squadron and Third Division were commanded by Rear Admiral William H. Emory.
Third Division consisted of
USS ''Louisiana'' (BB-19) , the 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) , the 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 Manila to Hampton Roads, 12,455 miles

Itinerary

Ships

The Fleet, First Squadron, and First Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Charles S. Sperry.
First Division consisted of
USS ''Connecticut'' (BB-18) , the 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) , the 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 Squadron and Third Division were commanded by Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder.
Third Division consisted of
USS ''Louisiana'' (BB-19) , the 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) , the 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.

Information About

Great White Fleet