Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 99110:  USS Butler ready for launching, 12 February 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Butler (DD-636), 1942-1948 --
Construction, 1941-1942

USS Butler was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on a shipway immediately adjacent to her sister ship, USS Gherardi (DD-637). The two ships' construction took place simultaneously, with both being laid down on 16 September 1941 and launched on 12 February 1942. Butler was the elder of the "twins" by a few minutes, since she was launched first during a dual christening ceremony. Her outfitting proceeded with greater speed, and she was commissioned on 15 August 1942, exactly one month before Gherardi.

This page features selected views related to the construction of USS Butler (DD-636).

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Butler (DD-636, later DMS-29), 1942-1948.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 99110

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Ready for launching, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on 12 February 1942.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson, USN, donated by Mrs. Alexander C. Liggett and Mrs. J.S. Taylor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 83KB; 555 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99111

    USS Gherardi
    (DD-637), at left,
    and
    USS Butler (DD-636)

    Ready for launching, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on 12 February 1942.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson, USN, donated by Mrs. Alexander C. Liggett and Mrs. J.S. Taylor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99109

    USS Gherardi
    (DD-637), at left,
    and
    USS Butler (DD-636)

    Ready for launching, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on 12 February 1942.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson, USN, donated by Mrs. Alexander C. Liggett and Mrs. J.S. Taylor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96397

    USS Butler
    (DD-636), at right

    Starts to slide down the ways during launching ceremonies at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 12 February 1942.
    USS Gherardi (DD-637), which was launched immediately afterwards, is at left.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 163KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99112

    USS Butler
    (DD-636)

    Slides down the ways, during launching ceremonies at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on 12 February 1942.
    USS Gherardi (DD-637), which was launched immediately afterwards, is at left.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson, USN, donated by Mrs. Alexander C. Liggett and Mrs. J.S. Taylor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 173KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99113

    Mrs. John Wehle
    ,
    Sponsor of USS Butler (DD-636)

    Holds the christening bottle, during the ship's launching ceremonies at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 12 February 1942.
    She was daughter of Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, USMC, in whose honor USS Butler was named.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson, USN, donated by Mrs. Alexander C. Liggett and Mrs. J.S. Taylor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Butler (DD-636, later DMS-29), 1942-1948.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 23 May 2004