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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-56 USS WASHINGTON
1938 - 1941
Construction - Shakedown

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Delta - Charlie
To Additional Pages

Jan. - August 1942 / War in the Atlantic
Sept. - December 1942 / Guadalcanal & Fourth Battle of Savo / Island
Jan. 1943 - Sept 1945 / War in the Pacific
Post WW-II

North Carolina Class Battleship: Displacement 35,000 Tons, Dimensions, 728' 9" (oa) x 108' 4" x 35' 6" (Max). Armament 9 x 16"/45 20 x 5"/38AA, 16 x 1.1" 12 x 0.5", 3 AC. Armor, 12" Belt, 16" Turrets, 1 1/2" Main Deck, +5 1/2" Armored (2nd) deck, +3/4" Third Deck, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 115,000 SHP; G.E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 27 Knots, Crew 1880.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, June 14, 1938. Launched June 1, 1940. Commissioned May 15, 1941. Decommissioned June 27, 1947. Stricken June 1, 1960.
Fate: Sold, June 1, 1961 and broken up for scrap.
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North Carolina Class92kModel of the North Carolina Class (BB-55) without her propulsion system and skegs, 30 May 1937. Photo from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N) Box 33. Courtesy of Dan Treadwell
North Carolina Class94kModel of the North Carolina Class (BB-55) with her propulsion system and skegs, 30 May 1937. Photo from National Archives & Record Administration (NARA), Record Group (RG-19N) Box 33. Courtesy of Dan Treadwell
BB-56 Washington 112k After months of preparation, the first step in the actual construction is reached as the keel is laid 14 June 1938 by a high Navy official (Rear Admiral Luther E. Gregory C.E.C. USN Ret.), and work upon the shipways begins. Thousands of men will work out on the shipways, while thousands of others in the shops and offices will helps them fulfill their tasks. USN photo & text courtesy of usswashington.com & submitted by Mike Green. Photo added 01/18/08.
BB-56 Washington 188k The Washington (BB-56) is seen on 6 January 1939 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The progress on the double and triple bottoms can be seen and the bulkheads for machinery space No. 2 have been erected. Framing for the tunnel of the twin skeg stern is also visible. USN photo courtesy of Mike Green from "Iowa Class Battleships-Their Design, Weapons & Equipment" by Robert Sumrall.
BB-551.5k Rammer and Hydraulic Drive Assembly, General Arangement Plan # 216402 for Battleships of the North Carolina Class (BB-55 / 56), dated 26 Sept. 1939. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels.
BB-56 Washington 66k Washington (BB-56) under construction at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard. USN photo.
BB-56 Washington 43k Invitation to the Launching of the Washington (BB-56), 1 June 1940. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-56 Washington 113k The battleship is ready for launching. Christened and sponsored by a charming lady, she slides down the ways into the Delaware River, and the second stage is completed. USN photo & text courtesy of usswashington.com & submitted by Mike Green. Photo added 01/18/08.
BB-56 Washington 80k The begining of the launching ceremony for the first battleship built in the U.S. in almost twenty years, crowds gather around the Washington (BB-56) at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard on 1 June 1940. She is the 1st battleship built and launched by the USN since West Virginia (BB-48) in November 1921. USN photo.
BB-56 Washington 246k With her upper bow wrapped in bunting and lower bow with poppet & packing, the Washington (BB-56) starts her slides down the ways at Leauge Island, Phila, Pa., 1 June 1940. USN photo courtesy of Brian Kroenung.
BB-56 Washington 37k Washington (BB-56) slides down the ways, 1 June 1940. Phila, Pa. USN photo.
BB-56 Washington 126k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Washington (BB-56), 1 June 1940. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
BB-56 Washington 72k Finally, a tremendous turret, machined from start in the Turret Shop and carried to the ship by barge, is swung into place. USN photo & text courtesy of usswashington.com & submitted by Mike Green. Photo added 01/18/08.
BB-56 Washington 66k The mighty warship, now virtually completed, goes into drydock for fitting-out, where last-minutes adjustments and improvements are made. USN photo & text courtesy of usswashington.com & submitted by Mike Green. Photo added 01/18/08.
BB-56 Washington 72k The Washington (BB-56) (with a British battleship in the background), is seen here in a pre-commissioning photo at Philadelphia Navy Yard and illustrates the design for the North Carolina class. The ship has not been fitted with main battery directors or with 1.1-inch machine guns. Note, too, that the after main battery director station has not yet been braced against vibration. Photo & text courtesy of Mike Green & U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.
BB-56 Washington 74k Undated bow view of the Washington (BB-56) fitting out at the Philadelphia Navy Yard prior to her 15 May 1941 commissioning. USN photo courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-56 Washington 94k Undated photo of the Washington (BB-56) at Philadelphia Navy Yard. The ship has been commissioned as evidenced by the Union Jack at her bow, but has not yet been fitted with light weight A.A armament, fire control directors, or search radars. The date of this photo may be her commissioning day, 15 May 1941, as the flag at the main mast is either that of the Secretary of the Navy or the Under Secretary of the Navy. The only difference in these two flags is the color, which is impossible to tell in this B/W photo. Contributed by Mike Green / USN photo.
BB-56 Washington 62k Finally, the ship is made spick and span, and at a colorful ceremony, she is commissioned by a high-ranking Navy official while her Captain and crew stand at attention. USN photo & text courtesy of usswashington.com & submitted by Mike Green. Photo added 01/18/08.
BB-56 Washington 67k Port Bow, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1941. National Archives # 19-N-24147
BB-56 Washington 221k Departing Philadelphia Navy Yard for her shakedown cruise, 29 May 1941. Contributed by Joe Radigan / USN photo.
BB-56 Washington 48k Washington (BB-56) off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1941. She is painted in the Measure 1 camouflage scheme. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 19-N-24148 now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-56 Washington 30k Port side aft, off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1941. USN photo.
Washington 95k Washington (BB-56) as built. Drawing courtesy of Jean Secardin. (Please contact him for permission to use any of his drawings @perso.wanadoo.fr/ww2.
WASHINGTON BB-56 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. John A Brown
Address: 3697 Doney St #-3697 Columbus, OH, 43213-1716
Phone: 614-237-6775
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
U.S.S.Washington Web page
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Battleship Photo Index Page


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