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Photo # NH 99111: USS Gherardi and USS Butler ready for launching, 12 February 1942

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

USS Gherardi (DD-636), 1942-1973 --
Construction, 1941-1942

Built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, USS Gherardi was constructed in tandem with her sister destroyer, USS Butler (DD-636). The two ships' keels were laid on adjacent slipways on 16 September 1941 and both were launched on 12 February 1942, with Butler going down a few minutes before Gherardi. The latter was fitted out somewhat more slowly, however, and she was placed in commission on 15 September 1942, exactly one month after Butler.

This page features selected views related to the construction of USS Gherardi (DD-637).

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Gherardi (DD-637, later DMS-30 and DD-637), 1942-1973.


    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 99247

    USS Gherardi     (DD-637)

    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: 86KB; 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 99248

    USS Gherardi     (DD-637)

    Ship's Sponsor, Mrs. Neville Gherardi Robinson, holds the christening bottle, during launching ceremonies at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 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: 48KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99249

    USS Gherardi     (DD-637)

    Launching, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 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: 162KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99250

    USS Gherardi     (DD-637)

    Silver trays and decanters presented to the Ship's Sponsor, Mrs. Neville Gherardi Robinson, by employees of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on the occasion of Gherardi's launching, 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: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Gherardi (DD-637, later DMS-30 and DD-637), 1942-1973.


    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