Built at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, USS Tillman was constructed alongside her sister destroyer, USS Beatty (DD-640). The two ships' keels were laid on adjacent slipways on 1 May 1941 and both were launched on 20 December 1942, with Tillman going down the ways shortly before Beatty. The latter was fitted out more rapidly, however, and she was placed in commission on 17 May 1942, nearly a month before Tillman.
This page features all the views we have concerning the construction of USS Tillman (DD-641).
For other images concerning this ship, see:
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 103766 USS Tillman (DD-641), left, and USS Beatty (DD-640), right On the building ways while being prepared for their dual launching ceremonies, at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, December 1941. The ships have not yet received a clean coat of paint. When launched on 20 December 1941, both had been painted in Camouflage Measure 12. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 560 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41784 USS Tillman (DD-641), at left, and USS Beatty (DD-640), center On the ways just before their dual launching ceremonies, at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41785 USS Tillman (DD-641), left center, and USS Beatty (DD-640), right center On the building ways while being prepared for their dual launching ceremonies, at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41786 Former Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels Speaking on the late Senator Benjamin R. Tillman of South Carolina, during the dual launching ceremonies for USS Tillman (DD-641) and USS Beatty (DD-640), at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. USS Tillman's bow is in the background. Beatty is off camera to the right, with shadows of men on her decks visible on Tillman's hull side. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41788 Former Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels Speaking on the late Senator Benjamin R. Tillman of South Carolina, during the dual launching ceremonies for USS Tillman (DD-641) and USS Beatty (DD-640), at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. USS Beatty's's bow is in the left background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41789 Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina Twelve thousand Navy Yard workers pledge to buy one or more defense bonds each. John D. Jennings presents the pledge list to Rear Admiral William H. Allen, Navy Yard Commandant, during dual launching ceremonies for USS Tillman (DD-641) and USS Beatty (DD-640), 20 December 1941. Tillman is in the left background. Beatty is at right. Microphones for radio stations WCSC and WTMA are in the right foreground. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41790 USS Tillman (DD-641) John D. Jennings presents gifts to Mrs. Charles S. Moore, the ship's Sponsor, during dual launching ceremonies for Tillman and USS Beatty (DD-640) at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina on 20 December 1941. Rear Admiral William H. Allen, Navy Yard Commandant, is at right. In the left center, just beyond Mr. Jennings, is Miss Minnie Moore, Maid of Honor. Tillman is in the left background. Beatty is at right. Microphones for radio stations WCSC and WTMA are in the right foreground. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41794 USS Tillman (DD-641) Mrs. Charles S. Moore, the ship's Sponsor, (right) with her Maid of Honor, Miss Minnie Moore, during launching ceremonies at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina on 20 December 1941. USS Beatty (DD-640), also launched at this time, is visible in the background. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41791 USS Tillman (DD-641) Mrs. Charles S. Moore, the ship's Sponsor, christens Tillman during launching ceremonies at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina on 20 December 1941. USS Beatty (DD-640) was also launched at this time. Captain Albert M. Penn, USN, Charleston Navy Yard Industrial Manager, is in the right foreground. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41787 USS Tillman (DD-641) Being towed by tugs in the Cooper River, just after she was launched at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. Note that she is painted in what appears to be Measure 12 camouflage. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-26590 (cropped) Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina Destroyers fitting out and refitting alongside the Navy Yard piers in January 1942. These ships are (from left to right): USS Tillman (DD-641), commissioned 9 June 1942; probably USS Beatty (DD-640), commissioned 7 May 1942; probably USS Hobson (DD-464), commissioned 22 January 1942; USS Anderson (DD-411); USS Hammann (DD-412); and USS Mustin (DD-413). Note that the three incomplete ships at left are painted in Measure 12 camouflage, while those refitting (at right) wear Camouflage Measure 12 (Modified). This image is cropped from Photo # 19-N-26590, which shows USS Morris (DD-417). Note (in the left foreground, atop her Mark 37 gun director) the bracket for the antenna of an FD radar. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 138KB; 1200 x 510 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of the launching of USS Tillman (DD-641) on 20 December 1941. The following list features this image:
The image listed below is NOT in the
Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
USS Tillman (DD-641) enters the water during her launching at the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, 20 December 1941. View from directly ahead and slightly to port, with the hull of USS Beatty (DD-640) partially visible at right.
Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center. The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions". |
For other images concerning this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 7 September 2006