USS Georgia (BB-15) - Pre-World War I

Pre-World War I

After Georgia was fitted out and completed a short shakedown cruise, she joined the Atlantic Fleet as flagship of 2nd Division, Squadron 1. Georgia departed Hampton Roads on 26 March 1907 for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where she participated in gunnery practice with the fleet. After returning briefly to Boston Navy Yard for repairs, Georgia joined with other ships of the Atlantic Fleet in ceremonies opening the Jamestown Exposition. President Theodore Roosevelt and dignitaries present reviewed the fleet on 10 June 1907, and 11 June was proclaimed "Georgia Day" at the exposition in special ceremonies aboard Georgia.

Georgia next sailed with the fleet for target practice in Cape Cod Bay, arriving on 15 June. On 15 July, a powder charge ignited prematurely in her aft 8 in (200 mm) turret, killing 10 officers and men and injuring 11. Condolences for the loss from this tragic accident were received from all over the world.

The powerful battleship then participated in the tercentenary of the landing of the first English Colonists from 16–21 August, after which she rejoined the fleet for battle maneuvers before mooring at League Island, Philadelphia on 24 September for overhaul.

Arriving in Hampton Roads on 7 December, Georgia gathered with 15 other battleships, a torpedo boat squadron, and transports for the great naval review preceding the cruise of the Atlantic Fleet to the West Coast. On 16 December, President Roosevelt reviewed the assembled "Great White Fleet" from the yacht Mayflower and sent it on the first leg of an around-the-world voyage of training, and building of American prestige and good will. Visiting many South American countries and their highly successful cruise, the fleet met with ships of the Pacific Fleet in another review in San Francisco Bay for the Secretary of the Navy on 8 May 1908. In 1908, Templin Potts took command. Then Georgia, in company with other battleships and supply vessels, departed San Francisco on 7 July for the second leg of the cruise, showing the flag and bringing the message of American sea power to many parts of the world, including the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and Mediterranean ports. The fleet then returned to Hampton Roads on 22 February 1909.

At this point, she was overhauled, and received cage masts that were the hallmark of so many US battleships of this era. Georgia continued to serve with the Atlantic Fleet in exercises and battle maneuvers—with periods of overhaul interspersed—until 2 November 1910, when President William Howard Taft reviewed the fleet prior to its departure for France. In an elaborate battle and scouting problem, Georgia and the other battleships continued their training, visiting Weymouth, England, and returning to Guantanamo Bay on 13 March 1911.

From 1911–1913, Georgia continued to train and serve as a ceremonial ship, and on 5 June 1913 participated in a two-month practice cruise for United States Naval Academy midshipmen. After a long overhaul period in Boston Navy Yard, Georgia arrived off the coast of Mexico on 14 January 1914 with other fleet units to protect American interests in the troubled Veracruz-Tampico area. The battleship returned briefly to Norfolk, Virginia in March, but was soon back cruising Mexican waters, and from August–October cruised off Haiti for the protection of American civilians in that country.

After another period of overhaul, Georgia joined the fleet off Cuba on 25 February 1915 for winter maneuvers, and spent the rest of the year in training and ceremonial duties with the Atlantic Fleet Battleship Force. She arrived at Boston Navy Yard for overhaul on 20 December and decommissioned on 27 January 1916.