Great White Fleet: USS Vermont (BB-20)

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Overview:

Nation: United States
Type: Battleship
Shipyard: Fore River Shipbuilding Company
Laid Down: May 21, 1904
Launched: August 31, 1905
Commissioned: March 4, 1907
Fate: Sold for scrap, 1923

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Specifications

Displacement: 16,000 tons
Length: 454.3 ft.
Beam: 76.9 ft.
Draft: 24.5 ft.
Speed: 18 knots
Complement: 880 men

Armament

4 × 12 in./45 cal guns
8 × 8 in./45 cal guns

12 × 7 in./45 cal guns
20 × 3 in./50 cal guns
12 × 3 pounders
4 × 1 pounders

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Design & Construction:

With the Virginia-class (USS Virginia, USS Nebraska, USS Georgia, USS New Jersey, and USS Rhode Island) of battleship commencing construction in 1901, Secretary of the Navy John D. Long met with the US Navy's several boards and bureaus for their opinions on designs for future capital ships. Though the answers centered on equipping the new battleships with four 12" guns, debate raged over the vessels' secondary armament. After extensive discussions, it was decided to arm the new design with eight 8" guns placed in four waist turrets. These were to be supported by twelve rapid-fire 7" guns. Achieving consensus with this mix, the new design was advanced and on July 1, 1902 approval was given for construction of two battleships, USS Connecticut (BB-18) and USS Louisiana (BB-19). Dubbed the Connecticut-class, this type would ultimately consist of six battleships.

Laid down on May 21, 1904, work commenced on USS Vermont at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company.

A year later, the ship entered the water on August 31, 1905, with Jennie Bell, daughter of Governor Charles J. Bell of Vermont, serving as sponsor. Work continued for nearly two years and the ship entered commission at Boston Navy Yard on March 4, 1907, with Captain William P. Potter in command. Though the US Navy's latest class, the type was made obsolete in December when British Admiral Sir John Fisher introduced the "all-big gun" HMS Dreadnought. Putting to sea, Vermont conducted a shakedown cruise between Boston and Hampton Roads.

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Early Service:

Joining the Atlantic Fleet, Vermont conducted exercises with the 1st and 2nd Squadrons during the late spring and summer. In September, the battleship returned to Boston Navy Yard for routine repairs. Departing on November 30, Vermont steamed to Bradford, RI to coal before putting into Newport, RI for installation of mine equipment. Continuing south, it entered port at Tompkinsville (Staten Island), NY where it took on ammunition. With this complete, Vermont proceeded to Hampton Roads where it rendezvoused with the other battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. There it prepared for an around-the-world cruise.

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Great White Fleet:

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became increasingly concerned about the US Navy's lack of strength in the Pacific due to the growing danger posed by Japan. To show the Japanese that the United States could easily shift its main battle fleet to the Pacific, he ordered a world cruise of the nation's battleships. Dubbed the Great White Fleet, Vermont, still commanded by Potter, was assigned to the force's First Division, First Squadron. This group also consisted of its sister ships Connecticut, Louisiana, and USS Kansas (BB-21). Leaving Hampton Roads on December 16, the fleet moved south through the Atlantic and made visits to Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro before reaching Punta Arenas, Chile on February 1, 1908. Passing through the Straits of Magellan, the fleet steamed in review off Valparaiso, Chile before calling at Callao, Peru. Departing on February 29, Vermont and the other battleships moved through three weeks of gunnery practice off Mexico the following month.

Reaching San Francisco on May 6, the fleet briefly stayed in California before transiting the Pacific to Hawaii. Turning southwest, Vermont and the fleet arrived at New Zealand and Australia in August. After taking part in welcoming and festive visits, which included parties, sporting events, and parades, the fleet sailed north to the Philippines, Japan, and China. During this time, Potter received a promotion and command of Vermont passed to Captain Frank F. Fletcher. Completing port calls in these countries, the American battleships steamed across the Indian Ocean before passing through the Suez Canal and entering the Mediterranean. Here the fleet split to show the flag in numerous ports and countries. Rendezvousing at Gibraltar, the fleet crossed the Atlantic and reached Hampton Roads on February 22 where it was reviewed by Roosevelt. With the cruise over, Vermont entered the yard for an overhaul and had two cage masts installed.

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Later Career:

With the completion of this work, Vermont joined the Atlantic Fleet's 3rd Division and spent much of June 1909 operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Returning north the following month, the battleship conducted exercises and training off the East Coast. The next three years saw Vermont follow this routine of operating in southern waters in the winter and off the East Coast in the summer. In early 1913, Vermont visited Colón, Panama at the terminus of the nearly-completed Panama Canal before moving on to Cuba. As tensions with Mexico increased, the battleship commenced work off the Veracruz that spring. Completing this duty, Vermont steamed to the Chesapeake and embarked midshipmen from the US Naval Academy for a summer training cruise.

In July 1913, Vermont entered Norfolk Navy Yard for an overhaul. Emerging in October, it then sailed to make a goodwill visit to Marseille, France. Returning in December, Vermont sustained damage to a propeller and had to be towed into Norfolk. Completing repairs, the battleship received orders to depart Hampton Roads on April 15 and steam to assist operations off Veracruz. Joining a squadron that included USS Arkansas (BB-33), USS New Hampshire (BB-25), USS South Carolina (BB-26), and USS New Jersey (BB-16), Vermont landed Marines on April 22 and supported the US occupation of Veracruz. Initially fighting to block an arms shipment to Victoriano Huerta, sailors and Marines from Vermont sustained one killed while two won the Medal of Honor. The battleship remained in the vicinity until that October.

USS Vermont (BB-20) - Final Assignments:

Over the next two years, Vermont resumed its usual peacetime activities until briefly being placed in reserve in October 1916. Reactivated the following month, it aided the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force in Haiti from November 29 until February 6, 1917. Entering Philadelphia Navy Yard for repairs in early April, it was there when the US entered World War I. Leaving Philadelphia on August 26, Vermont spent the duration of the conflict as an engineering training ship in the Chesapeake Bay. This duty was only broken in May-July 1918 when it transported the remains of the late Chilean ambassador to the US to Valparaíso. On November 5, Vermont returned to Philadelphia for conversion into a temporary troopship. Steaming to France, it conducted four voyages to help return American servicemen home. Completing this duty on June 20, 1919, Vermont then sailed for the West Coast where it was to be placed in reserve. Arriving at Mare Island Navy Yard in September, it was formally decommissioned on June 30, 1920. In accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty, the old battleship was sold for scrap three years later.

Selected Sources