SPOKANE TROPHY
| Brief History of the Spokane Trophy The Spokane Trophy was originated in 1907 to be awarded to the best battleship in the U. S. Navy Atlantic Fleet. The Trophy was paid for and donated by citizens of Spokane, Washington. In 1907 the Spokane Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Victor Metcalf, then Secretary of the Navy. The Chamber wanted to donate the annual award for Atlantic Fleet turret marksmanship. It was decided by President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary Metcalf 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.” It should be noted that the Navy had yet to establish the Pacific Fleet. The trophy, which cost $1,500 at the time, was completed in 1908 by Leo M. Dornberg & Co., a Spokane jewelry maker. After being displayed in Spokane, it was awarded to the armored cruiser USS TENNESSEE (ACR-10) in 1908, and an annual tradition was begun. Thirty-two years later, World War II began and awarding the trophy was suspended for the duration. For reasons unknown, the hiatus became permanent. However, Spokane’s gleaming gift was displayed for many years in the Naval Museum in Washington, D.C., and was later moved to the Naval Historical Center. Finally, in 1979 the Pacific Fleet Commander suggested the Spokane Trophy be restored to active duty. Five years later the Historical Center placed the trophy on “indefinite loan” to the Pacific Fleet. In 1984 it was awarded to the battleship USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62), and the tradition resumed after nearly a half-century. In 1995 Spokane became reacquainted with its own award. Amazingly, during the long hiatus, the city that bestowed this award had forgotten about its own creation. Fortunately, the Spokane Council of the Navy League of the United States found out about it when they received an invitation from the Commanding Officer of the USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG-62) to see the Spokane Trophy. It was to be on display at Commander Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet in San Diego. After viewing the trophy and learning its heritage, the Spokane Council of the U.S. Navy League decided to take active part in presenting the award in future years. Then Council Vice President John Berry designed a plaque to be awarded to the ship that wins the award. It shows the picture and is maintained aboard the ship; as the actual trophy is stored at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. Since 1997 an officer of the U.S. Navy League Spokane Council has presented a commemorative plaque to the crew of the winning ship, and is often joined by a representative of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce. The officers and crews of the Spokane Trophy ships are truly appreciative of the recognition and invariably express surprise that an inland community would so honor the Navy. |
SPOKANE TROPHY
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SPOKANE TROPHY WINNERS Per USN Surface Force Training Manual 5-2-03: “Spokane Trophy (NAVSURFPAC only.) The Spokane Trophy is awarded by CINCPACFLT on a cycle basis to the surface combatant ship considered to be the most proficient in overall combat systems readiness and warfare operations. The nomination will be submitted by the TYCOM based on the recommendations of the ISIC. Because the award is to recognize demonstrated ability to fully conduct, on a sustained basis, simultaneous and coordinated AW, SUW and USW operations with all installed equipments, no check- off list of particular criteria is appropriate nor can a ship explicitly work for nomination for the award other than by routinely striving for the highest levels of combat systems training and material excellence. Nominations will be solicited from the ISIC each competitive period by separate correspondence and forwarded to CINCPACFLT within 30 days after the end of the current cycle.” 2008 USS HOPPER (DDG-70) - FPO AP96667-1289 Home Port - Pearl Harbor, HI 2007 USS CHAFEE (DDG-90) - FPO AP 96662-1305 Home Port - Pearl Harbor, HI 2006 USS BUNKER HILL (CG-52) - FPO AP - Home Port: San Diego, CA 2005 USS CHOSIN (CG- 65) - FPO AP - Home Port: Pearl Harbor, HI 2004 USS Lake Erie (CG-70), FPO AP - Home Port: San Diego CA CAPT Joe Horn, USN, Commanding Officer 2003 USS PRINCETON (CG-59) FPO AP 96675-1179 - Home Port: San Diego CA CAPT James L.T. “Red” Smith, USN, Commanding Officer 2002 USS PORT ROYAL (CG-73) FPO AP 96875-1193 - Home Port: Pearl Harbor HI CAPT Patrick E. Frank, USN, Commanding Officer 2001 USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53) FPO AP 96669-1271 - Home Port: San Diego CA CDR David STEINDL, USN, Commanding Officer 2000 USS FITZGERALD (DDG-62) FPO AP 96665-1280 - Home Port: San Diego CA CDR Alfred COLLINS, USN, Commanding Officer 1999 USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG-57) FPO AP 96671-1177 - Home Port: San Diego CA CAPT Paul T. SERFASS, USN, Commanding Officer 1998 USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG-60) FPO AP 96667-1278 - Home Port: Pearl Harbor HI CDR James K. HISER, USN, Commanding Officer 1997 USS BENFOLD (DDG-65) FPO AP 96661-1283 - Home Port: San Diego CA CDR D. Michael ABRASHOFF, USN, Commanding Officer 1996 USS COWPENS (CG-63) FPO AP 96662-1183 - Home Port: Yokosuka, Japan CAPT William SULLIVAN, USN, Commanding Officer 1995 USS CHANCELLORSVILLE (CG-62) FPO AP 96662-1182 - Home Port: Yokosuka, Japan CAPT Edward R. HEBERT, USN, Commanding Officer 1994 USS COWPENS CG-63 FPO AP 99662-1183 - Home Port: Yokosuka, Japan 1993 USS PRINCETON CG-59 FPO AP 99675-1179 Home Port: San Diego, CA 1992 USS FIFE (DD-991) FPO AP 96665-1229 - Home Port: Everett WA CDR Daniel T. Vilotti, USN, Commanding Officer 1991 USS ANTIETAM (CG-54) FPO AP 9660-1174 - Home Port: Long Beach, CA CAPT Robert A. Schafer, USN, Commanding Officer 1990 USS PRINCETON (CG-59) FPO AP 96657-1179 - Home Port: Long Beach, CA 1989 USS ANTIETAM (CG-54) FPO AP 9660-1174 - Home Port: Long Beach, CA CAPT Robert A. Schafer, USN, Commanding Officer 1988 USS RUBEN JAMES FFG-57 FPO AP 99669-1511 Home Port: Pearl Harbor HI 1987 USS THACH FFG-43 FPO AP 96679-1498 Home Port: San Diego, CA 1986 USS HORNE (CG-30) FPO SF 96667-1153 - Home Port: Long Beach, CA 1985 USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) – Ship received a miniature of the trophy 1947-1984 Trophy was retired during this period for unknown reasons 1941-1946 Trophy suspended due to WWII 1939-1940 USS IDAHO (BB-42) 1937-1938 USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB–48) 1936-1937 USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48) 1935-1936 USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) 1931-1932 USS TEXAS (BB-35) 1931-1930 USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) 1928-1929 USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48) 1926-1927 USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44) 1925-1926 USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48) 1923-1924 USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38) 1920-1921 USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) 1918-1919 Trophy suspended due to World War I 1916-1917 USS FLORIDA (BB-30) 1915-1916 USS GEORGIA (BB-15) 1914 USS CALIFORNIA (ACR-6) [renamed USS SAN DIEGO (CA-6) on 1 September 1914] 1913 USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) 1912 USS FLORIDA (BB-30) 1911 USS COLORADO (ACR-7) 1910 USS MARYLAND (ACR-8) 1909 USS MARYLAND (ACR-8) 1908 USS TENNESSEE (ACR-10) First time trophy is awarded Notes: 1) Armored Cruisers (ACR's) were sometimes referred to as 2nd Class Battleships early in the century. As naval architecture evolved, all the Spokane Trophy winners eventually had their names changed from honoring states, as is customary for battleships, to honoring cities, as is customary for cruisers, at the same time their designation was changed from ACR to CA (Cruiser ex- Armored). They were assigned to cruiser squadrons during WWI, and all were scrapped by the early 1930s. 2) The rules used by the Navy to award the trophy have changed over the years. Originally the ships won the trophy based on gunnery competitions held the same year the trophy was presented. Now, the trophy is awarded in the spring of the year following the “cycle” period, which is the previous calendar year. For example, the 2003 winner was named in the Spring of 2004 and will hold it for that year. Photo Log of Winners of the Spokane Trophy Photos of the ships that have won the trophy over the years will be posted soon. The first ship was the USS Tennessee (ACR-10) in 1908. The first battleship to receive the award was the USS FLORIDA (BB-30) in 1912. The USS Idaho (BB-42) was the last ship to receive the trophy prior to the start of WWII. The lines of the Navy’s modern fighting ships and their weaponry have changed considerably since WWII. Though a direct comparison is difficult, pound for pound, today’s cruisers pack more firepower than the old battleships. |
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