The Great White Fleet Battleship Kentucky

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USS Kentucky (BB-6), Fourth Division

Kentucky (BB-6) was launched 24 March 1898 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia; sponsored by Miss Christine Bradley, daughter of Governor William Bradley of Kentucky, who, in support of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, christened Kentucky with water instead of the traditional champaign. This launch also afforded spectators the opportunity to view the launch of sister ship Kearsarge (BB-5) only one hour earlier in the neighboring berth. Kentucky was commissioned 15 May 1900 with Captain Colby M. Chester in command.

After fitting out in New York Navy Yard during the summer, Kentucky sailed 25 October 1900 for the Far East via Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. She joined the other American ships on the Asiatic Station at Manila 3 February 1901 and 6 days later sailed for Hong Kong, where she became flagship of the Southern Squadron under Rear Admiral Louis Kempff on 23 March. Throughout the following year the battleship led her squadron as it watched over American interest in the Far East, visiting principal ports of China and, Japan including Chefoo, Taku, Nanking, Woosung, Hong Kong, Amoy, Nagasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama,

Rear Admiral Frank F. Wildes also selected Kentucky as his flagship upon relieving Admiral Kempff 1 March 1902, but he transferred his flag to Rainbow, 7 April. Rear Admiral Robely D. Evans, Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, chose Kentucky as his flagship at Yokohama on 4 November; and he continued to direct American naval operations in the Far East from her until she sailed from Manila for home 13 March 1904. After retracing her steps through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar, she arrived New York 23 May.

Upon completing overhaul in New York Navy Yard 26 October, Kentucky devoted the following year to tactics and maneuvers off the Atlantic coast with the North Atlantic Fleet. The battleship joined the welcome of the British Squadron at Annapolis and New York in the fall of 1905 and then cruised along the eastern seaboard until 23 September 1906. On that day off Provincetown, she embarked marines from Maine, Missouri and Kearsarge and landed them at Havana 1 October to protect American lives and property during the Cuban Insurrection. She stood by to support forces ashore until 9 October before resuming battle practice and tactics in the, North Atlantic.

Kentucky visited Norfolk 15 April 1907 to attend the Jamestown Exposition; and, after more exercises off the New England coast, she returned to Hampton Roads to join the "Great White Fleet" of 16 battleships for a world cruise that brought great prestige and honor to the Navy and the Nation. Rear Admiral Evans, Kentucky's former Flag Officer, commanded the fleet as it circumnavigated the globe receiving warm and enthusiastic welcomes at each port of call. As the famous voyage got underway from Hampton Roads 16 December, Kentucky passed in review before President Roosevelt as a unit in the 2d Squadron. After calling at Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro, the warships passed in open order through the Straits of Magellan to visit Punta Arenas and Valparaiso, Chile. A stop at Callao Bay, Peru, was followed by a month of target practice out of Magdalena Bay, Mexico. The fleet reached San Diego 19 April 1908 and moved on to San Francisco 7 May. Exactly 2 months later the spotless warships sortied through the Golden Gate and sailed for Honolulu. From Hawaii they set course for Auckland, New Zealand, arriving 9 August. The fleet made Sydney 20 August and after a week of warm and cordial hospitality, sailed for Melbourne.

Kentucky departed Albany, Australia, 10 September for ports in the Philippine Islands, Japan, China and Ceylon before transiting the Suez Canal. She departed Port Said 8 January 1909 to visit Tripoli and Algiers with the 4th Division before reforming with the fleet at Gibraltar. Underway for home 6 February, she again passed in review before President Roosevelt upon entering Hampton Roads 22 February, ending a widely acclaimed voyage of good will in which she and her sister ships subtly but effectively demonstrated American strength to the world

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