Existing comment:
The battleships of the Atlantic Fleet, painted white with gilded scrollwork, were divided between five ship classes: Kearsarge, Illinois, Maine, Virginia, and Connecticut. They displaced 11,525-16,000 tons and measured 375 to 456 feet in length overall.
The cruise provided Navy personnel with practical experience in sea duty and ship handling, leading to improved formation steaming, coal economy, and morale. Gunnery exercises doubled the accuracy of gunfire in the fleet. At the same time, the cruise underscored the dependence of the fleet on foreign colliers as well as the need for coaling stations and auxiliary ships for coaling and resupply. |