A picture of the Pacific Fleet armoured cruisers in San Diego Harbour, California circa 1909-1910. The nearest ship is the USS Colorado
The USS Colorado in 1911 flew the Spokane Trophy Pennant as her gun crews had the best marksmanship of any cruiser or battleship in the Navy. Colorado was the third ship to win the Spokane Trophy, the USS Tennessee was the first ship to win the trophy in 1908.
Photograph taken circa 1907-1908 four of the US Pacific Fleet’s armoured cruisers are seen steaming in column. The lead ship is the USS Colorado.
In 1907 the Spokane Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Victor Metcalf, then Secretary of the Navy in which the Spokane Chamber wanted to donate an annual award for Atlantic Fleet turret marksmanship. President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary Metcalf decided that it should be awarded annually to the battleship or armored cruiser of either fleet that made the highest final merit with all of her turret guns. Trophy costs of $1,500 was paid for and donated by citizens of Spokane, Washington to be awarded to the best battleship or cruiser in the U. S. Navy Fleet.
Photograph of USS Colorado underway in manila bay, Philippines in 1906.
The Spokane Trophy has undergone several changes from 1908 and is still active today being awarded by CINCPACFLT to the surface combatant ship considered to be the most proficient in overall combat systems readiness and warfare operations.
Cheers
Sean
