USS Michigan (BB-27) - Pre-World War I

Pre-World War I

Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Michigan conducted shakedown off the East Coast and in the eastern Caribbean Sea until 7 June 1910. Standing out of New York Harbor on 29 July, the battlewagon then steamed along the New England and Middle Atlantic coasts on maneuvers. On 2 November, she departed Boston, Massachusetts, for a training cruise to western Europe. After visiting the Isle of Portland in England, she arrived Cherbourg, France on 8 December. She sailed on 30 December for the Caribbean, touched Guantanamo Bay Naval Base on 10 January 1911, and reached Norfolk, Virginia on 14 January.

Michigan operated along the Atlantic Coast until standing out from the Virginia Capes on 15 November 1912 for a cruise to the Gulf of Mexico. After visiting Pensacola, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Galveston, Texas, she arrived Veracruz, Mexico on 12 December. She headed for home two days later, and reached Hampton Roads on 20 December. She operated along the East Coast until departing Quincy, Massachusetts on 6 July for the Gulf coast of Mexico to protect American interests endangered by civil strife in Mexico. The battleship anchored off Tampico on 15 July, and remained alert off the Mexican coast until sailing for New York City on 13 January 1914, reaching Brooklyn Navy Yard on 20 January.

She began a run from Norfolk to Guacanayabo Bay, Cuba on 14 February, and returned to Hampton Roads on 19 March. Underway again on 16 April she joined American forces at Veracruz. Reaching that troubled Mexican city on 22 April, she landed a battalion of Marines as part of the main occupation force, then operated off the Mexican coast, heading home on 20 June and entered the Delaware Capes on 16 April.