USS Florida (BB-30) - Pre-World War I

Pre-World War I

After extensive training in the Caribbean and Maine coastal waters, Florida arrived in Hampton Roads on 29 March 1912 to join the Atlantic Fleet as flagship of 1st Division. Regularly scheduled exercises, maneuvers, fleet training and target practice, and midshipmen training cruises took the new battleship to many east coast ports and into Caribbean waters. Early in 1914, tension heightened between the United States and factions in Mexico, and Florida arrived off Veracruz on 16 February 1914 remaining there during the ensuing occupation. Fourteen members of the crew received the Medal of Honor during the action, they were:

She steamed to New York in July to resume regular fleet operations and in October was transferred to 2nd Division.