The Pathfinders
Prior to the Great White Fleet departing, a squadron known as the Special Service Squadron was formed under Rear Admiral Uriel Sebree. This squadron was ordered to steam from Hampton Roads to traverse the course to be covered by the Great White Fleet two months later.
The "Pathfinders" left on October 12th and was comprised of the armored cruisers USS Washington and USS Tennessee.
Upon arriving at Magdalena Bay they met the USS California and USS South Dakota which became part of the Squadron.
In addition, President Roosevelt decided to bring the Navy's four new cruisers of the First Division in the South China Sea back home. These ships, the USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, and USS West Virginia, sailed to join the Fleet when it arrived in San Francisco. Some of these cruisers joined the Fleet when it visited the Northwest.
On August 17th the First Squadron departed from Mare Island, California to steam first to Honolulu and then a direct transit to Pago Pago, Samoa. This placed an additional force of ships in the Pacific that could potentially support the Fleet during a hostile conflict. This group included the USS West Virginia, USS California, USS South Dakota, and the USS Tennessee.
The Pathfinder Squadron port visits included Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Punta Arenas, Chili, Callao, Peru, Acapulco, Mexico, Pichilinque Bay, Mexico, and Magdalena Bay. It was at Magdalena Bay on December 28th that they met the USS California and the USS South Dakota and waited for the Battleship Fleet to join them.
Regards
Sean
