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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 105177:  Launching of the battleship Washington, 1 September 1921

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

Washington (BB-47), construction cancelled 1922

Washington, a 32,600-ton Colorado class battleship, was under construction at Camden, New Jersey, when the Washington naval limitations treaty was signed in February 1922. Launched in September 1921, the battleship was nearly 76 percent completed when construction ceased on 8 February 1922. Since the treaty prohibited her completion, Washington was subsequently used for tests of weapons effects and warship protection. Her hulk was sunk as a gunnery target in November 1924.

This page features the only views we have concerning the cancelled battleship Washington (BB-47).


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 105177

Washington
(BB-47)

Launching, at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 1 September 1921.
Photographed by the Aero Service Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
USS Colorado (BB-45) is fitting out in the wet basin at the end of the covered shipways building. The two 535-foot passenger liners fitting out in the upper left are S.S. Southern Cross (later USS Wharton, AP-7) and S.S. Hoosier State.
Washington's construction ceased in February 1922, under the terms of the Naval Limitations Treaty, and she was sunk as a target in 1924.

Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image size: 132KB; 900 x 730 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 106248

Washington
(BB-47)

Fitting out at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, circa late 1921 or early 1922.
This photograph was released by the International news photo service, of New York City, with text dated 17 February 1922 concerning the possible cancellation of the ship's construction under the terms of the recently-concluded Washington Naval Limitations Treaty.

Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2008.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61244

Incomplete Battleship Washington (BB-47)


Photographed from the South Yard of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, on 5 April 1922. Her construction had been suspended some two months previously, under the terms of the Washington naval limitations treaty.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 24 August 2000
    New image added 11 January 2009