US: 1908 U.S.S. Maryland Naval Trophy Medal for Fleet Gunnery Competition For Sale

US: 1908 U.S.S. Maryland Naval Trophy Medal for U.S. Navyfleet gunnery competition. Bronze ca. 36 mm diameter medal awarded to the crewof the U.S.S. Maryland for excellence in a battleship gunnery competition in1908. In early March 1908 the Armored Cruiser Squadron and the Third Divisionof the Pacific Fleet held their target practice in preparation for the Annual“Battleship Trophy” for the best marksmanship of main guns on active cruisersor battleships in the combined American Fleet, which would be held in May. ThePacific fleet held their practice in Magdalena Bay and the Atlantic Fleet heldits practice in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In May during the combined competition atthe firing range off Magdalena Bay, Mexico, the Maryland’s forward 8-inch maingun had the best score of the entire fleet where she bested the larger guns onthe fleet battleships. The 1908 “Battleship Trophy” was awarded to the Marylandand during the competition it was proved that the guns of the cruisers weremore accurate than the guns of the battleships and that the averagemarksmanship of the Pacific Fleet was better than the Atlantic Fleet. The crewreceived a medal representing that achievement and a rare specimen is part ofMilbee's group (thanks to the excellent Great White Fleet website for thisdetailed information). The medal is in near very fine condition, with modestwear to the enamel portions of the medal. The original medal had a petite enameled pennant suspension device instead of a ribbon; that suspension ismissing and was at sometime replaced with an old red/white/blue ribbon. The reverse isplain, and there is no maker-mark. Authenticityguaranteed; 14-day return privilege (30 days overseas), excluding postage,provided item is returned in same condition when sold. Item will be shippedUSPS First Ground Advantage; will combine postage for multiple purchases.