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Photo # 19-N-89065:  USS Washington running post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, on 10 September 1945.

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

USS Washington (BB-56), 1941-1961

USS Washington, a 35,000-ton North Carolina class battleship, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. She commissioned in May 1941 and was in the Atlantic during "close to war" and wartime operations for more than a year. From April into July 1942 Washington worked with the British Home Fleet in the North Atlantic. She was then overhauled and sent to the South Pacific, where, in September, she joined U.S. forces engaged in the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 14-15 November 1942, she was flagship of Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee in the last part of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. During that night action, her sixteen-inch guns fatally damaged the Japanese battleship Kirishima.

Washington worked in the South and Central Pacific into 1944. She took part in the invasions of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943 and the Marshalls early in the new year. On 1 February 1944, during the latter operation, she crushed her bow in a collision with the battleship USS Indiana (BB-58). Following repairs, Washington rejoined the fleet in time to participate in the Marianas invasion in June 1944, and in the resulting Battle of the Philippine Sea.

During the next year, Washington took part in operations to capture the Palaus, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as supporting the fast carriers on their raids throughout the Western Pacific. She was undergoing overhaul during the last two months of the Pacific War and, in October 1945, steamed through the Panama Canal to the Atlantic. Her final active duty was to transport veteran servicemen home from Europe. USS Washington was placed out of commission in June 1947 and was in "mothballs" from then until May 1961, when she was sold for scrapping.

This page features selected views concerning USS Washington (BB-56), and provides links to other images related to her.

For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Washington and USS Indiana Collide, 1 February 1944.


    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 #: 19-N-24148

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1941.
    She is painted in the Measure 1 camouflage scheme.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 405 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-33803

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Off New York City, New York, 21 August 1942.
    Note barge alongside amidships and OS2U floatplane afloat off her stern.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 595 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-63999

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, 26 April 1944, following repair of collision damage to her bow.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 525 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-358634

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Underway at sea, 28 May 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 19-N-89065

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Running post-overhaul trials in Puget Sound, Washington, on 10 September 1945.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-21029

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    In mid-Atlantic, while en route to operate with the British Home Fleet.
    Photo is dated 22 April 1942, over two weeks after Washington's arrival at Scapa Flow.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 535 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-24783

    King George VI


    Inspects the crew of USS Washington (BB-56), 7 June 1942.
    Note Vought OS2U floatplane on the ship's starboard catapult.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-15103 (Color)

    USS Washington (BB-56)

    Maneuvering off Oahu, Hawaii, in Mid-1943.
    Taken by a USS Yorktown (CV-10) photographer.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 68352

    USS Washington (BB-56)


    Alongside USS Vestal (AR-4) for initial repairs, after colliding with USS Indiana (BB-58) during the Marshalls Operation, 1 February 1944.
    Note serious damage to Washington's bow.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-6568 (Color)

    USS Washington (BB-56) and
    USS Enterprise (CV-6)

    Transiting the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic, early in October 1945.
    They were then en route to the U.S. East Coast to participate in Navy Day celebrations.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For additional images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Washington and USS Indiana Collide, 1 February 1944.


    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 4 April 2000
    Link added 31 December 2006