USS Milwaukee (C-21) - Service History

Service History

After a shakedown cruise off the coast of California and Mexico, from 14 March through 28 May 1907, Milwaukee departed San Francisco, California on 26 June 1907 and cruised on the coast of San Salvador and Costa Rica protecting American interests and engaging in target practice with the squadron in Magdalena Bay. On 26 March 1908, the cruiser sailed from San Francisco for Bremerton, Washington, where she was placed in reserve on 25 April. Except for a cruise in the summer of 1908, which took her to Hawaii and to Honduras, the ship remained in reserve status at Puget Sound Navy Yard until decommissioned on 3 May 1910.

Milwaukee recommissioned in ordinary on 17 June 1913 and was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. In the next two years, the ship made several brief cruises, one to Honolulu with a detachment of Washington State Naval Militia, from 1 through 22 July 1914, and several along the coast of California. On 18 March 1916, Milwaukee was detached from the Reserve Fleet and assigned duty as tender to destroyers and submarines of the Pacific Fleet. Based at San Diego, the cruiser participated in exercises and maneuvers off the coast, patrolled Mexican waters, transported refugees, and performed survey duty. Milwaukee was completing overhaul at Mare Island including installation of heavy machine tools so the cruiser could act as a tender for the Coast Torpedo Force of destroyers and submarines.