Kentucky, a 45,000-ton Iowa class battleship, was built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, but never completed. Her keel was first laid in March 1942. Construction was suspended in June of that year and not resumed until December 1944. Work was again suspended in February 1947. The incomplete hull was launched in January 1950 to make Kentucky's building dock available for other uses.
Though several schemes were entertained for completing Kentucky as a guided-missile ship, none were pursued. Her bow was removed in 1956 to repair USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and she was sold for scrapping in October 1958. However, Kentucky's engines remain in service to this day, powering the fast combat support ships USS Sacramento (AOE-1) and USS Camden (AOE-2).
This page features several views of the uncompleted battleship Kentucky.
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 96327 Kentucky (BB-66) Bottom structure is prepared for launching, at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 10 June 1942. It was launched to clear the shipway for landing ship tank (LST) construction. Work was not resumed on Kentucky's hull for nearly thirty more months. Copied from History of the Norfolk Navy Yard in World War II, page 157, in the collections of the Navy Department Library, 1987. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 118KB; 535 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-701942 Kentucky (BB-66) Under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia. Photograph was released for publication in February 1946. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-703023 Kentucky (BB-66) Under construction at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, 11 September 1946. Her construction was suspended five months later, on 17 February 1947. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 138KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-413973 Kentucky (BB-66) Is moved from her building dock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, circa 20 January 1950. The ship, completed only up to her second deck, was launched to clear the drydock, so that USS Missouri (BB-63) could undergo repairs for damage received when she went aground on 17 January 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-413972 Kentucky (BB-66) Is moved from her building dock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, circa 20 January 1950. The ship, completed only up to her second deck, was launched to clear the drydock, so that USS Missouri (BB-63) could undergo repairs there following her 17 January 1950 grounding. Note that Kentucky's upper bow section is stowed on her deck, immediately in front of her forward barbette. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-670850 Kentucky (BB-66) Ship's bow being transported on a large crane barge from Newport News, Virginia, to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, circa May-June 1956. It was used to repair USS Wisconsin (BB-64), which had been damaged in a collision on 6 May 1956. Tug closest to camera is Alamingo (YTB-227). Tug on other side of barge is Apohola (YTB-502). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 620 x 690 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 93589 Kentucky (BB-66) At the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, 24 October 1956. Her hull is complete only to the second deck and is missing its bow, which was removed to repair USS Wisconsin (BB-64) earlier in the year. Courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 635 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 89297 Kentucky (BB-66) Being towed to the Boston Metals Company, Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping, 31 October 1958. Note bow sections and 5"/38 gun shields on her deck. Courtesy of the Boston Metals Company. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Link added and coding revised 14 May 2000