USS Michigan

USS Michigan. The name has been borne by four distinct vessels in the United States Navy, each representing significant eras in American naval development. The first was a pioneering ironclad warship of the mid-19th century, while the most notable was a dreadnought battleship that served through both world wars. These ships participated in key historical events, from the American Civil War to the Atlantic convoys of World War II, and were involved in notable incidents including the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903 and the Great White Fleet.

History

The lineage of vessels named for the State of Michigan spans over a century of naval evolution. The first entered service during a period of rapid technological transition from wood and sail to steam and armor. The second, a pre-dreadnought battleship, served during the rise of the United States as a global naval power under the influence of strategists like Alfred Thayer Mahan. The third, a dreadnought, was among the first of its kind for the U.S. Navy and saw extensive service. The name was later assigned to an Ohio-class submarine, continuing the tradition of naming strategic assets for states.

Design and construction

The first *Michigan*, later renamed *Wolverine*, was a unique ironclad designed by Samuel Hartt and constructed at Shipyard in Erie, Pennsylvania. Launched in 1843, it featured a paddle wheel and was the first iron-hulled warship in the U.S. Navy. The second, a Maine-class battleship, was built at the William Cramp & Sons shipyard in Philadelphia. The third and most significant, Battleship No. 27, was a *South Carolina*-class dreadnought, constructed at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation yard in Camden, New Jersey. Its design, overseen by the Bureau of Construction and Repair, pioneered the superfiring arrangement of its main armament.

Service history

The first *Michigan* spent its entire career on the Great Lakes, serving as a training vessel and later being renamed *Wolverine* to free the name for a new battleship. The second *Michigan* (BB-27) was commissioned in 1910 and immediately joined the Atlantic Fleet. It participated in the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903 and circumnavigated the globe as part of the Great White Fleet. During World War I, it served as a training ship for naval militia and conducted convoy escort duties in the Western Atlantic. After the war, it was modernized and served through the 1920s. In World War II, the aged battleship was used for training duties at the Naval Station Great Lakes and was ultimately decommissioned in 1923 and scrapped under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.

Commanding officers

Command of these vessels was held by numerous notable naval officers. The first *Michigan* was initially commanded by Commander William Inman. The dreadnought *Michigan* (BB-27) had its first captain, Captain John Hubbard, who oversaw its early service and participation in the Great White Fleet. During World War I, it was commanded by Captain Henry A. Wiley, who later achieved the rank of Admiral and served as Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet. Other commanders included Captain Thomas Washington and Captain Louis R. de Steiguer.

Awards and recognition

For its service, the dreadnought *Michigan* (BB-27) was awarded the World War I Victory Medal for its support role during the conflict. The ship and its crews were recognized for their part in the historic Great White Fleet voyage, a demonstration of American naval power ordered by President Theodore Roosevelt. While individual crew members may have received personal decorations, the ship itself earned campaign honors for its Atlantic service. The legacy of the name is preserved in the United States Naval Institute archives and the Naval History and Heritage Command.

Category:United States Navy ship names