History of the United States Navy the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914. The Great White Fleet required almost 50 coaling ships, and during the cruise most of the fleet's coal was purchased from the British, who could deny access to fuel during a military crisis as they did with Russia during the Russo-Japanese War. When United States agents discovered that the German merchant ship "Ypiranga" was carrying illegal arms to Mexico, President Wilson ordered the Navy to stop the ship from docking at the port of Veracruz. On 21 April 1914, a naval brigade of marines and sailors occupied Veracruz. A total of 55
Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Naval Good Shooting Medal of 1903. This medal was retrospectively approved by Royal Warrant in 1958. The Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 to replace the Naval Good Shooting Medal for naval gunnery champions, the awarding of which had been discontinued in 1914. Every medal is awarded with a clasp, inscribed with the year of award and attached to the medal's suspension bar. Holders of the medal who qualify for a subsequent award, are awarded a clasp only, to be worn on the ribbon of the