From 1893 to 1916, seven U.S. ships of the line were loaned to the State as official training ships.  In addition to these, some fourteen other U.S. Naval vessels were used for short periods of time in drills and training cruises.  Throughout its existence, California's Navy would provide officers and sailors for service in vessels of the U.S. Navy during two wars — the Spanish-American War and in World War I.

During the Spanish-American War, officers and sailors from the California Naval Militia made up a large percentage of the National Naval Volunteers and U.S. Auxiliary Naval Forces and served in the U.S. Navy aboard both the USS Olympia and USS Oregon, as well as other ships of the Navy. 

Among these ships, the USS Marion has been transferred to the custody of the State of California, where she was employed as a training ship and headquarters for the California State Naval Militia.  During San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, she was docked at San Francisco, California, pier No. 10, where she served during this natural disaster.

By 1917, the  California Naval Militia numbered nearly one thousand officers and enlisted men. During World War I, the California Naval Militia was called into active service on April 6, 1917 and was mobilized aboard the ships USS Oregon, USS San Diego and the USS Huntington then at Mare Island. The California Naval Militia was officially mustered into Federal Service on May 3, 1917. The staff officers of the Headquarters, California Naval Militia, were also so mobilized, and said officers, (excepting Captain George W. Bauer, N.M.C.) were mustered into Federal Service as members of the National Naval Volunteers. The National Naval Volunteers being part of the United States Navy, the men were assigned to various duties aboard ships and ashore, and the former members of the California Naval Militia saw service in all parts of the world. 

During this period, the USS San Diego was manned by several members of the California Naval Militia and placed in full commission April 7, 1917, where she operated as flagship for Commander, Patrol Force Pacific Fleet, until July 18, when she was ordered to the Atlantic Fleet via the Panama Canal.  On July 29, 1917, USS San Diego entered the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, reaching Hampton Roads, Virginia on 4 August, were she joined Cruiser Division 2, and later broke the flag of Commander, Cruiser Force, Atlantic.

Members of the Aeronautic Section were assinged to the USS Huntington then at Mare Island.  USS Huntington was detached from the Reserve Force and placed in full commission on April 5, 1917.  Several members of the California Naval Militia which had been called into active service on 6 April were also mobilized aboard the USS Huntington. Having been officially mustered into Federal Service on May 3, 1917, on May 11, USS Huntington departed Mare Island and steamed to Pensacola, Florida via the Panama Canal. Detached from the Pacific Fleet after her arrival in Florida on May 28, 1917, she spent the next 2 months at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, engaging in a series of important early experiments with balloons and seaplanes launched from the ship's deck.  The USS Huntington at NAS, Pensacola, Florida was fitted with an experimental catapult installed over the aft gun and fan tail.  These early experiments were the beginnings of US Naval Aviation and was another crucial link to the first Aircraft Carriers of the US Navy.


Ships of the California Naval Militia
Related Pages
USS Oregon, flagship of the California Naval Militia