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Naval History and Heritage Command

S-582 USS Arkansas (BB-33) Collection

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Title: USS Arkansas (BB-33) Collection
Description: Photo album compiled by a member of USS Arkansas crewmember (name unknown) during her European Cruise, October 25th to December 15, 1913 containing 88 pages with 141 photographs (chronologically arranged) describing the activities of the ship and her crew, beginning with target practice in the Caribbean just before her Mediterranean cruise; the voyage across the Atlantic in late October and early 1913; her visit to Naples, Italy during November 8th – 30th; sightseeing trips by her crew to Naples, Rome, Venice, Florence, and Pompeii; and the return voyage to the United States in December 1913. Though the photographs provide some interesting views of contemporary Navy life and a large number of “tourist” images in and around Italian cities, the album’s beautifully typewritten text is its most noteworthy feature. Specific scenes include: bringing provisions aboard USS Arkansas, October 1913; Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt visiting the USS Arkansas, October 1913; the Atlantic Fleet steaming out of Hampton Roads, October 1913; general onboard activities and relaxation en route to the Mediterranean (exercise, inspections, playing games, etc.) ; and many liberty images at various European locations; and the East River, New York City upon returning to the US.
Catalog #: S-582
Donor: Unknown
Copyright Owner: Naval History & Heritage Command
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Please review the pages of the album by scrolling through the above PDF document. Several "tourist" sightseeing pages have not been digitized for size purposes. 

 

The text captures the life of a sailor aboard USS Arkansas, as well as her day-to-day operations as one of the fourteen Atlantic Fleet ships that participated in the US Navy’s October-December 1913 Mediterranean cruise, described in that year’s “Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy” as…”arranged largely for the educational advantages to be derived by officers and enlisted men from an opportunity to visit foreign ports and travel in foreign countries. Such diversion from the usual exercises of the fleet conduces to increased contentment; and, in consequence, more widespread interest in the Navy and increase of its popularity will result”.

 

Once in the Mediterranean, the fleet split up, with USS Arkansas and USS Florida going to Naples for three weeks, while the other ships visited Malta, Genoa, Villefranche, and Marseilles. Crewmen received leave for extensive sightseeing, the ships were opened for visits by local residents and officers and men were liberally entertained ashore. On December 3rd, 1913 the fleet passed Gibraltar, homeward bound, leaving behind a Europe that just nine months later would be convulsed by war. 

Topic
  • Cruises, Deployments, and Exercises
  • Boats-Ships--Battleship
Document Type
  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • PDF (Portable Document Format)
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials