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Great White Fleet
GREAT WHITE FLEET CENTENARY: 1908-2008
In the last years of his presidency, President Theodore Roosevelt sent the US Navy on a world tour from December 16, 1907 – February 22, 1909. It was a test for the ships on such a long tour, as well as a carefully choreographed display of military might on the high seas.
In 1898, after the Spanish-American War, America found itself a player on the global stage, acquiring Guam and the Philippines as US Possessions in the Pacific.
In 1904 the US took over the building of the Panama Canal and to ensure its safety, established a naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Anti-American sentiment was on the rise in Japan as a result of their feeling snubbed at the Treaty of Portsmouth, which was presided over by President Roosevelt after the Japanese victory over the Russian Fleet in the Russo-Japanese War.
It was a huge operational undertaking for the US Navy and required a great deal of navigational logistics to achieve such a trip. At this time, the Panama Canal was not yet complete, so the fleet had to pass through the Straits of Magellan. This of course, meant the traditional ‘Crossing the Line’ ceremonies, a great naval tradition involving various ‘initiation rites’ culminating in the welcome by King Neptune. Passing through the Strait was not without risk. The sheer logistics of travel and refueling points made the voyage of the ‘Great White Fleet’ an impressive exercise.
The tour was not without its detractors in the USA; there were fears that the US would be exposed without its naval defences. Others feared that the Japanese would attack the fleet. Roosevelt, on the other hand, hoped this tour would provide the incentive he needed from Congress to appropriate funds for four more battleships.
The ships, painted white with gold detailing, consisted of sixteen ships and 14,000 sailors and marines; four squadrons of four battleships with their escorts, covered more than 69,000km (43,000 miles). Some ships, like the six destroyers, dubbed the ‘Torpedo Flotilla’ undertook only part of the voyage. These ships later came to be known as the ‘great White Fleet’. Among the 14,000 sailors were old men who had served aboard wood ships in the Spanish American War, and among the thousands of young sailors, several who would distinguish themselves in WWII – Chester W Nimitz and William F Halsey.
Despite the fact that some of the ships were already technically outdated, and some participated in only part of the tour, the voyage of the Great White Fleet proved to be a huge public relations coup for the President Roosevelt and the US Navy. Wherever they went, huge crowds greeted the arrival of the Fleet, with formal dances, fetes, games, receptions and other events prepared for the tens of thousands of sailors and officers.
The arrival of the Great White Fleet in Australia prompted the Australian government to proceed with the development of their own navy.
The Great White Fleet sailed into Sydney on August 18, 1908 and departed on August 28, 1908. It arrived in Port Phillip, Melbourne on August 29th and most of the fleet departed for Albany WA on 15 September. The fleet arrived in Albany on 11 September 1908 and departed for Manila on 18 September 1908.
In Sydney, 500,000 people, about one quarter of the city’s population, turned out for the Fleet’s arrival. Martin Place was decorated in garlands and swag and renamed ‘American Place’ in honour of the occasion.
The Fleet Steps (Farm Cove side of the point/Mrs Macquarie’s Chair) in the Royal Botanical Gardens were built for the arrival of the Fleet.
The Sydney Morning Herald, for the first time in its 67-year history, published photographs in their paper which featured the Fleet entering the Harbour. There was an aquatic carnival on the Harbour and a magnificent fireworks festival. Parramatta played host to sailors. Centennial Park hosted a grand review which included 3,000 sailors from the fleet. A children’s display with 16,000 flags took place at the SCG.
In 2008 the United States celebrates the centenary of the voyage of the Great White Fleet. Much has changed in 100 years. It is now Easier to travel the world by ship, yet to put an armada of such a scale on the ocean today would cause global consternation. The logistics of security and the necessary communication to the embassies of those countries involved (and those the ships would travel close to) necessitates that the ‘fleet’ will be much smaller in scale. However, as it was in 1908, those ports who take part in the tour in 2008 are no less involved in making it a positive experience and a chance to educate and inform.
Australia was one of the first countries to extend an invitation to the US Fleet. Then Prime Minister Alfred Deakin wrote the letter to the US Government conveyed through US Consul General John Bray in Melbourne dated 24 December 1907, whom Alfred Deakin also visited in person to press his cause for the visit:
'I think you will be able to tell your Government what an enthusiastic, whole-hearted welcome battleships under the American flag would receive in the Commonwealth. It would be a further token of the close alliance of interests and sympathies which exists between us. No other Federation in the world possesses as many features of likeness to that of the United States as does the Commonwealth of Australia, and I doubt whether any two peoples could be found who are in nearer touch with each other, and are likely to benefit more by anything that tends to knit their relations more closely.' +
Australia is once again proud to take part in the Centenary of the Great White Fleet. Events on a varying scale are planned for Sydney, Melbourne, and Albany from mid August and September 2008.
In Sydney, there will be several events, including an symposium and exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum (the exhibit will travel to Melbourne and Albany), a joint concert by members of the US Naval Band (Pacific Fleet) and the RAN Band, receptions, a book launch, a symposium and exhibit opening at the Australian National Maritime Museum, as well as a live radio concert by both bands at ABC’s Ultimo studios.
The American Australian Association hosts a formal Ball at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Saturday 23 August, 2008.
Great White Fleet Events, Sydney NSW
22 August
Combined RAN and US Pacific Fleet Bands Concert, Angel Place.
Open to the public. Click to download flyer
23 August
Australian National Maritime Museum Great White Fleet Exhibit opening
AAA Limited Centenary Ball, Art Gallery of NSW
24 August
Combined RAN and US Pacific Fleet Bands Radio Concert, ABC Studios, Ultimo, Eugene Goosens Hall.
Open to the public. Click to download flyer
Great White Fleet Events, Melbourne VIC
28 August
ANMM Traveling Great White Fleet exhibit opening
Great White Fleet Events, Albany WA
12 August
City Parade and Market Day
Civic Reception
1908 Great White Fleet Stats
* 16 battleships of the Atlantic Fleet, with escorts
* Steam-powered, steel hulled
* 14,000 sailors and marines
* 69,200km traveled in 14 months
* 20 ports visited
* 6 continents
The Tour: First Leg
Hampton Roads to San Francisco 16/12/1906 – 6/5/1908
* Hampton Roads, Virginia
* Port of Spain, Trinidad
* Sandy Point, Brazil
* Punta Arenas, Chile
* Callao, Peru
* Magdalena Bay, Mexico
* San Francisco, California
The Fleet/First Leg:
First Squadron, First Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans
First Division
Fleet flagship: USS Connecticut (BB-18): CAPT Hugo Osterhaus
USS Kansas (BB-21): CAPT Charles E Vreeland
USS Vermont (BB-20): CAPT William B Potter
USS Louisiana (BB-19): CAPT Richard Wainwright
Second Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral William H Emory
Division Flagship: USS Georgia (BB-15): CAPT Henry McCrea
USS New Jersey (BB-16): CAPT William H Southerland
USS Rhode Island (BB-17): CAPT Joseph B Murdoch
USS Virginia (BB-13): CAPT Seaton Schroeder
Second Squadron, Third Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Charles M Thomas
Third Division
Squadron flagship: USS Minnesota (BB-22): CAPT John Hubbard
USS Maine** (BB-10): CAPT Giles B Harber
USS Missouri (BB-11): CAPT Greenlief A Merriam
USS Ohio (BB-12): CAPT Charles W Barlett
Fourth Division
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Charles S Sperry
Division flagship: USS Alabama** (BB-8): CAPT Ten Eyck de Witt Veeder
USS Illinois (BB-7): CAPT John M Bowyer
USS Kearsarge (BB-5): CAPT Hamilton Hutchins
USS Kentucky (BB-6): CAPT Walter C Cowles
** detached at San Francisco due to mechanical issues.
Fleet Auxiliaries
USS Culgoa (storeship): Lieut. Cmdr. John B Patton
USS Glacier (storeship): Cmdr William S Hogg
USS Panther (repair ship): Cmdr Valentine S Nelson
USS Yankton (tender): Lieut Walter R Gherardi
USS Relief (hospital ship)
"Torpedo Flotilla"
USS Hopkins: Lieut. Alfred G Howe
USS Stewart: Lieut Julius F Hellweg
USS Hull: Lieut Frank McCommon
USS Truxton: Lieut Charles S Kerrick
USS Lawrence: Lieut Ernest Friedrick
USS Whipple: Lieut Hutch I Cone
USS Arethusa (tender): Cmdr Alfred W Grant
The Tour: Second Leg
San Francisco to Puget Sound and back 6/5/1908-7/7/1908
The Fleet/Second Leg:
First Squadron, First Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Charles S Sperry
First Division
Fleet flagship: USS Connecticut (BB-18): CAPT Hugo Osterhaus
USS Kansas (BB-21): CAPT Charles E Vreeland
USS Vermont (BB-20): CAPT William B Potter
USS Minnesota (BB-22): CAPT John Hubbard
Second Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral William Wainwright
Division Flagship: USS Georgia (BB-15): CAPT Edward F Qualtrough
USS Nebraska(BB-14): CAPT Reginald F Nicholson
USS New Jersey (BB-16): CAPT William H H Southerland
USS Rhode Island (BB-17): CAPT Joseph B Murdoch
Second Squadron, Third Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral William H Emory
Third Division
Squadron flagship: USS Louisiana (BB-19): CAPT Kossuth Niles
USS Virginia (BB-13): CAPT Alexander Sharp
USS Missouri (BB-11): CAPT Robert M Doyle
USS Ohio (BB-12): CAPT Thomas B Howard
Fourth Division
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder
Division flagship: USS Wisconsin (BB-9): CAPT Frank E Beatty
USS Illinois (BB-7): CAPT John M Bowyer
USS Kearsarge (BB-5): CAPT Hamilton Hutchins
USS Kentucky (BB-6): CAPT Walter C Cowles
Fleet Auxiliaries
USS Culgoa (storeship): Lieut. Cmdr. John B Patton
USS Glacier (storeship): Cmdr William S Hogg
USS Panther (repair ship): Cmdr Valentine S Nelson
USS Yankton (tender): Lieut Charles V McVay
USS Relief (hospital ship): Surgeon Charles F Stokes
The Tour: Third Leg
San Francisco to Philippines 7/7/1908 – 10/31/1908, 11/7/1908
* San Francisco, California
* Honolulu Hawaii
* Auckland New Zealand
* Sydney NSW, Australia
* Melbourne VIC, Australia
* Albany WA, Australia
* Manila, Philippine Islands
* Yokohama, Japan
* Amoy, China (Second Squadron)
* Manila, Philippine Islands (First Squadron) 31/10/1908
* Manila, Philippine Islands (Second Squadron) 7/11/1908
The Fleet/Third Leg:
First Squadron, First Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Charles S Sperry
First Division
Fleet flagship: USS Connecticut (BB-18): CAPT Hugo Osterhaus
USS Kansas (BB-21): CAPT Charles E Vreeland
USS Vermont (BB-20): CAPT William B Potter
USS Minnesota (BB-22): CAPT John Hubbard
Second Division:
Division Flagship: USS Georgia (BB-15): CAPT Edward F Qualtrough
USS Nebraska(BB-14): CAPT Reginald F Nicholson
USS New Jersey (BB-16): CAPT William H H Southerland
USS Rhode Island (BB-17): CAPT Joseph B Murdoch
Second Squadron, Third Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral William H Emory
Third Division
Squadron flagship: USS Louisiana (BB-19): CAPT Kossuth Niles
USS Virginia (BB-13): CAPT Alexander Sharp
USS Missouri (BB-11): CAPT Robert M Doyle
USS Ohio (BB-12): CAPT Thomas B Howard
Fourth Division
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder
Division flagship: USS Wisconsin(BB-9): CAPT Frank E Beatty
USS Illinois (BB-7): CAPT John M Bowyer
USS Kearsarge (BB-5): CAPT Hamilton Hutchins
USS Kentucky (BB-6): CAPT Walter C Cowles
Fleet Auxiliaries
USS Culgoa (storeship): Lieut. Cmdr. John B Patton
USS Glacier (storeship): Cmdr William S Hogg
USS Panther (repair ship): Cmdr Valentine S Nelson
USS Yankton (tender): Lieut Charles V McVay
USS Relief (hospital ship): Surgeon Charles F Stokes
The Tour: Final Leg
Manila, Philippines to Hampton Roads, Virginia 1/12/1908 – 22/2/1909
* Manila, Philippine Islands
* Colombo, Ceylon
* Suez, Egypt
* Messina, Italy***
***(USS Connecticut, USS Illinois, USS Culgoa, and USS Yankton go to the aid of earthquake victims. USS Illinois brings out the bodies of the US Ambassador and his wife)
USS Scorpion and USS Celtic relieve the USS Illinois and USS Connecticut in Italy so they can rejoin the Fleet)
* Gibralter
* Hampton Roads, Virginia
The Fleet/Final Leg:
First Squadron, First Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Charles S Sperry
First Division
Fleet flagship: USS Connecticut (BB-18): CAPT Hugo Osterhaus
USS Kansas (BB-21): CAPT Charles E Vreeland
USS Vermont (BB-20): CAPT William B Potter
USS Minnesota (BB-22): CAPT John Hubbard
Second Division:
Division Flagship: USS Georgia (BB-15): CAPT Edward F Qualtrough
USS Nebraska(BB-14): CAPT Reginald F Nicholson
USS New Jersey (BB-16): CAPT William H H Southerland
USS Rhode Island (BB-17): CAPT Joseph B Murdoch
Second Squadron, Third Division:
Commanded by: Rear Admiral William H Emory
Third Division
Squadron flagship: USS Louisiana (BB-19): CAPT Kossuth Niles
USS Virginia (BB-13): CAPT Alexander Sharp
USS Missouri (BB-11): CAPT Robert M Doyle
USS Ohio (BB-12): CAPT Thomas B Howard
Fourth Division
Commanded by: Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder
Division flagship: USS Wisconsin(BB-9): CAPT Frank E Beatty
USS Illinois (BB-7): CAPT John M Bowyer
USS Kearsarge (BB-5): CAPT Hamilton Hutchins
USS Kentucky (BB-6): CAPT Walter C Cowles
Fleet Auxiliaries
USS Culgoa (storeship): Lieut. Cmdr. John B Patton
USS Glacier (storeship): Cmdr William S Hogg
USS Panther (repair ship): Cmdr Valentine S Nelson
USS Yankton (tender): Lieut Charles V McVay
USS Relief (hospital ship): Surgeon Charles F Stokes
US Navy Ship Naming conventions at the time:
Battleships*: named for US States
Armoured cruisers, monitors: named for cities in their home state
Destroyers: named for American naval heroes, leaders
*USS Kearsarge(BB-5) was the exception. It was named after a famous Civil War sloop held in high esteem by the Navy and the then Secretary of the Navy.
Participating organizations:
Australian National Maritime Museum
Royal Australian Navy
Sea Power Centre Australia
US Consulate
US Embassy
American Australian Association Ltd
Additional resources:
Wikipedia
Navy Military History 1
Navy Military History 2
Navy Military History 3
Navy Military History 4
Great White Fleet Info
Great White Fleet Sydney 1908
Great White Fleet Melbourne 1908
Great White Fleet Albany 1908
Haze Gray-GWFleet 1908
Digger History
Australian War Memorial
Macleay Museum Collections, The University of Sydney. They have the glass slides of various events of the Great White Fleet, including the article and photo from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Books: Reckner, James R. Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1988
Albertson, Mark They’ll Have to Follow You! The Triumph of the Great White Fleet, Mustang: Tate Publishing & Enterprises LLC, 2007
+ National Archives of Australia, Canberra
Abstract: Also MS 294 Alfred Deakin - correspondence regarding Deakin's invitation, conveyed through John Bray, United States Consul-General, Melbourne, to the US fleet to visit Australian ports. Comprises copies of correspondence between Bray and US Assistant Secretary of State, Washington; Deakin to Bray; Deakin to Whitelaw Reid, US Ambassador to Great Britain; J Bryce to E Root, US Secretary of State; and Whitelaw to Root, between 24 December 1907 and 3 March 1908. Bray to Assistant Secretary of State.
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Copyright © 2009 American Australian Association
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