The U.S. Navy to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Great White Fleet

Navy News Service ^ | 12/14/2007 3:50:00 PM

[ConorMacNessa]

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- One hundred years ago on Dec. 16, 1907, the Great White Fleet departed Hampton Roads, Va., marking the first global naval voyage in America's young history.

The U.S. Navy is honoring the anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet deployment over the next year to underscore the Navy's commitment to sustaining a Navy and Marine Corps responsive to the challenges of the 21st century. To kick-off the commemorative period, the Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, is hosting a ceremony from that very home port on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Dec. 15.

In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States, sent a portion of the Atlantic fleet on a world tour to test naval readiness, establish global presence and generate international goodwill.

"Theodore Roosevelt's idea to send a fleet of 16 U.S. battleships on a world tour, was a dramatic gesture aimed at audiences both at home and abroad," said Winter. "To the world, the message was that the United States had arrived as a significant world power, outward-looking, and filled with goodwill towards every nation. To the public of this great country, the message was that you have a Navy to be proud of, and that the strength of the U.S. Navy is a primary source of our status as a nation of influence and power."

[ConorMacNessa]

Don’t worry, some FReeper will set us straight.

The breadth of knowledge on this forum is nothing short of astounding.

[ConorMacNessa]

I believe that’s correct.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They might be "blowing soot," all at once, but the smoke generally (along with limited range) was the reason for switching to heavy oil. If you've ever seen a big ship fire up on coal, you'll know what I mean.
Again; one remaining coal burner remains in active operation in the US (hint; on the Great Lakes.) Can anyone name her ?

[Cuttnhorse]

I give up!

[Lurking in Kansas]

No, but the suspsense is killing me.

Give it up Eric.;-)

[Eye of Unk]

http://www.steamtug.org/ The ST Baltimore?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The SS Badger. She’s the Lake Michigan car ferry that runs from Manitowoc to Ludington. Two 7,000 horsepower Skinner underfeed stokers. She used to be parked at Kewaunee, WI where a pal’s fishing boat was parked. I saw the Badger fire up on a couple of occasions. The smoke would fog the entire harbor...

[Eye of Unk]

The S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien was a coal fired Liberty ship but it last sailed in 2002.

[brityank]

More because the old-time Radio needed longer antennas; no FM or higher freqs back then.

[Badeye]

Whats really interesting is the United States Congress refused to provide funding for the trip....saying it was too expensive.

So TR sent the fleet anyway, and told Congress it would have to remain in Manila Bay if they didn’t come up with the money.

Pity Nancy Pelosi doesn’t remember history....

[brityank]

Wow! Curb feelers to aid in parallel parking.

Not quite; few places for them to tie up dockside. They were booms placed for the small boats to tie up to when the ship was at anchor, Captain's Gig, Liberty Launches, painter's skiffs, etc.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks for the info, brityank.

[brityank]

I just pulled the movie from the Navy.mil site —
http://www.navy.mil/gwf/GWF_player.swf
— it opens OK in my Firefox in a larger window than that of the Navy page at http://www.navy.mil/gwf
Interesting info; thank you.

[Cuttnhorse]

That makes sense.

[snippy_about_it]

Those old wide battleships were beautiful!