#USS Washington (BB-56)

[lonestarbattleship]

"Nerve systems for the Battle Wagons"

Artwork by Dwight Shepler

Posted on Flickr by James Vaughan: link

[captain-price-unofficially]

Footage of USS Washington (BB 56) defending TF-58 against an IJN air attack off Saipan during the Marianas campaign, June 15, 1944.

[judgemark45]

USS North Carolina BB-55 & USS Washington BB-56 off of Nouméa New Caledonia - January 1943

[usaac-official]

An OS2U catapults from USS Washington (BB-56) during operations in the North Atlantic, May/June 1942

[sandyhookhistory]

“The Stage Is Set" As promised: our big post we hinted about yesterday, and it will be in two parts. 80 Years Ago - (Sunday) Nov 15th, 1942: For all the insanity happening in the Atlantic and North Africa, half a world away in the Solomon Islands, the island of Guadalcanal – and the waters around it – have become ground zero. It is the opening stage of the ground offensive to retake the Pacific, and men, supplies, planes, and ships from both sides are being hurled into it. Neither side can afford to lose it, and efforts from the Americans and the Imperial Japanese are exceeding beyond maximum. The day of the Battleship is waning, but that doesn’t mean that several dozen of these steel monsters still patrol the seas with their massive guns. Eclipsed by the aircraft carrier, the battlewagons still have plenty of life – and lethality – left in them. The Naval Battle Of Guadalcanal started on November 12th. I don’t have enough room in a hundred posts to cover it all, other than it is a wild, and horrifically savage fight that involves everything from destroyers to battleships. Both sides have been chewing away at each other for two days with no clear winner. The stage is set for one violent, brutal climax. Steaming in comes US Navy Task Force 54, with 6 ships, under Admiral Willis A. Lee. It comprises the battleships USS Washington (BB-56, North Carolina-Class, Photo 1) and USS South Dakota (BB-57, South Dakota-Class, Pic 2) and an escort of four destroyers: USS Walke, Preston, Benhim, and Gwin, respectively. Heading straight for them in the pitch dark is a Japanese task force under Admiral Nobutake Kondō. It has FOURTEEN ships: the battleship Kirishima (Kongo-Class, Photo 3), 2 heavy and 2 light cruisers and 9 destroyers. At less than 10 miles from one another, the battle opens. In short order, all four American destroyers are sunk or knocked out; Washington knocks out one Japanese destroyer. Things go right out the window when South Dakota suffers a catastrophic electric failure; she loses her radios, radar, and firing capability. Spotlighting her, the Japanese tear into South Dakota rake her with fire. Washington is now on her own. Stand by for Part 2! (at Fort Hancock, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClDBerItt8K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[pukindawgsblog]

USS Washington (BB 56) radar and gun director setup for night battle against Kirishima, November 14/15, 1942.

[hussarregiment]

USS Washington (BB-56) during the Night Battle off Guadalcanal on 14-15 November 1942.

(NavSource)

[lonestarflight]

View of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from the deck USS WASHINGTON (BB-56).

Photographed by Frank Scherschel for LIFE Magazine in July 1942.

LIFE Magazine Archives: 116792839

[nebris]

(8/21/1942) USS Washington (BB-56) Off New York City, New York. Note barge alongside amidships and OS2U floatplane afloat off her stern. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives

[usafphantom2]

Douglas SBD Dauntless from VB-16 flying over USS Washington (BB-56) during the invasion of Gilbert Island. November 12, 1943.

[lonestarbattleship]

View of USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55), USS WASHINGTON (BB-56), USS GUAM (CB-2) and USS FRESNO (CL-121) or USS SPOKANE (CL-120) from the foremast of USS ALASKA (CB-1) on February 2, 1950. They docked in Bayonne Navy Yard, New Jersey as part of the New York Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

"Mothballed battleships laid up at Naval supply base, covered with protective metal bubbles."

Photographed by Herbert Gehr, LIFE Magazine.

LIFE Magazine Archives: 111458526, 111458531, 111458540, 111458541, 111458563, 11458538

[captain-price-unofficially]

USS Washington (BB-56) making her way across the Atlantic to join with the Royal Navy's Home Fleet in the spring of 1942

[judgemark45]

USS Washington (BB-56) with Heavy Cruiser USS Wichita (CA-45) & RN Heavy Cruiser HMS Kent (54) at Hvalfjordur in Iceland 1942

[aiiaiiiyo]

Battleship USS Washington (BB-56) Hvalfjörður, Iceland, May/June 1942 [1303 x 973] Check this blog!

[lex-for-lexington]

“USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Colorado (BB-45) & USS Washington (BB-56), circa post November 1943.”

(Source)

[watashawa]

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