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Photo # NH 53508:  Installing gyro stabilizing units in USS Henderson, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, April 1917.

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

USS Henderson (Transport # 1), 1917-1948 --
Construction

USS Henderson, the Navy's first "built for the purpose" transport, was laid down at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 June 1915. She was launched on 17 June 1916, sponsored by Miss Genevieve W. Taylor, and placed in commission on 24 May 1917.

This page features views related to the construction of USS Henderson.

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Henderson (Transport # 1, later AP-1), 1917-1948.


    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 53502

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    Admiral W. S. Benson, USN, putting in the first bolt of USS Henderson's keel in the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 19 June 1915.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105427

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    Under construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa spring 1916.
    Printed on postcard stock.

    Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 460 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53509

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    Henderson was the first large ship to be gyro-stabilized. The stabilizing unit was installed while the ship was being built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. This view of the whole ship, taken on 13 April 1917, shows the size of the stabilizer compared to the ship.
    "The gyros being installed through the side of the ship, weigh four-fifths of one per cent of the displacement of the ship, approximately 80 tons. The gyros are capable of holding the ship down to three degrees of roll in the roughest weather. On numerous trans-Atlantic crossings experiments have been conducted, rolling the ship with the stabilizers for experimental director gun fire as well as stabilizing the ship for economy in effort in operation and comfort of personnel on board. USS Henderson was well fitted for these experiments, being equipped with eight five-inch guns and a complete fire control director." (quoted from the original 1917-vintage photo caption)

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53507

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    Gyroscopic stabilizers being installed through the side of the ship while in dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 13 April 1917.
    "To accomplish this, the two gyro units were placed on a barge and docked with the ship. Two plates were then removed from the side of the ship, and the gyros were skidded down on to their foundations inside. Each of the gyro units weighed about 30 tons." (quoted from the original 1917-vintage photo caption)

    Courtesy of Sperry-Rand Corporation.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 635 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53508

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    A close-up view of the two gyro stabilizing units being skidded into the ship in dry dock at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in April 1917.
    "Each of these units contains a wheel weighing 26 tons mounted on a horizontal shaft lying in normal position athwartships. The units are secured to the ship in the gudgeon bearings, the trunions of which are visible on the top of each unit. This allows each unit to turn or precess about a vertical axis to give the spinning gyro rotors the second motion necessary to produce the gyroscopic action to help stabilize the ship." (quoted from the original 1917-vintage photo caption)

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53510

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    Close-up view of the gyroscopic stabilizers used in USS Henderson, taken in the Philadelphia Navy Yard circa April 1917.
    "A rotor nine feet in diameter with shaft stubs being assembled in the casing. The 60 horsepower motor necessary to drive the shaft is shown mounted on the right-hand shaft stub. After assembly the rotor was carefully balanced. The last weight to be subtracted to obtain perfect balance was only one half of an ounce." (quoted from the original 1917-vintage photo caption)

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53511

    USS Henderson
    (Transport # 1)

    A close-up of the gyroscopic stabilizer installed in Henderson in April 1917 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
    The casting of the gyro rotor weighed about 60,000 pounds.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Henderson (Transport # 1, later AP-1), 1917-1948.


    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 15 July 2004
    New image added 21 January 2008