USS Washington (BB-56)

History of USS Washington (BB-56)

USS Washington (BB-56) was part of the US Navy's North Carolina Duo-class battleships in service in the late 1930s. The ship participated in early operations across the North Atlantic (and served for some time in the British Home Fleet), but left her true legacy in the Pacific theater fighting against Imperial Japanese forces.

The USS Washington is thought to have sunk more enemy tonnage during World War II than any other U.S. Navy warship. Astonishingly, in all her combat operations, Washington never lost a sailor in enemy action or suffered a direct hit from enemy surface guns.

Origin of USS Washington

By 1937, the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty restrictions on battleship construction were largely obsolete. The treaty was proposed by the five world powers of the time - Britain, the United States, Italy, Imperial Japan and France - to control the production of warships and to limit the maximum surface displacement and main gun calibers of all capital-class ships. The treaty was a response to the naval arms race that sparked World War I. In 1930, the treaty was revised to regulate submarine warfare and further shipbuilding.

A further amendment was proposed in 1936, which became the Second London Naval Treaty. However, Japan and Italy did not adhere to the treaty, while Germany was relatively immune to these restrictions, as it was already subject to the post-World War I Versailles Treaty.

The German nation took most of the responsibility for the war and was punished accordingly. However, despite the treaty, Germany began secretly building its war machine.

Japan refused to ratify the Second London Naval Treaty, rejecting its restrictions and choosing to build warships suitable for its upcoming adventures in the Pacific. After the First World War, Britain retained the largest naval power in the world, followed by the US Navy in increasing numbers, while the Empire of Japan maintained the third largest naval power.

While the Naval Treaty was still in effect, the U.S. Navy took steps to procure two modern battleships of up to 35,000 displacement, capable of top speeds of 28 knots, and main gun armament including 14-inch quads (in true HMS King George V battleship style).

However, with Japan's refusal to ratify the 1936 London Naval Treaty, the United States pursued two battleships with renewed enthusiasm, opting to equip them with 16-inch guns. Due to the choice of gun caliber larger than the expected 14 inches, each turret could only carry three of these guns instead of the expected four. The main armament will be concentrated in three independently operated turret positions attached to the conventional hull and with a suitable superstructure placed amidships, heavily defended by cannons and machine guns. Armor protection designed to withstand direct hits from 14" strikes was not addressed for potential damage from enemy 16" artillery. The new class of battleships was named "North Carolina" in honor of the United States, and two battleships were built - the main ship would become USS North Carolina (BB-55), followed by her sister - USS Washington (BB-55).

56). Washington was ordered on August 1, 1937, and built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 14, 1938. The USS Washington was launched on June 1, 1940, and conducted a typical trial cruise, before being officially commissioned on May 15, 1941, with Captain Howard H.J. Benson at the helm.

Visit the USS Washington

USS Washington was a conventional battleship design at the time. The shape is dominated by the large superstructure in the middle of the ship. The bow tapers to a fine point that cuts across and over the water, flares amidships and tapers again at the stern. A control tower equipped with various communication and sensor equipment stands high on the structure, followed by two chimneys.

Turret No. 1 (the most forward turret position) was located low on the first floor, followed by turret No. 2, which was slightly raised to allow firing from turret No. 1. Turret number three is located aft of the superstructure, so only a full broadside can unleash the firepower of all three turrets.

Therefore, a full frontal attack can only use Turret One and Turret Two. Aft is an orbital catapult launch system for use by carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft (Curtiss SOC Seagulls or Vought Kingfisher seaplanes), which is still used on U.S. Navy warships to scout enemy positions and movements. A crane was installed behind these launch tracks to recover the seaplanes on return.

The vessel weighs 36,900 standard tons and 44,800 tons when fully loaded. She measures 729 feet in length, 108 feet in beam and 38 feet in draft. The crew consists of 1,880 officers (108) and seamen (1,772).

Power is provided by a set of four geared steam turbines, which together generate 120,000 shaft horsepower. This arrangement provides a maximum sea speed of 27 knots under ideal conditions.

Armed

Primary armament consists of a 9 x 16 inch gun. They are mounted in groups of three on three armored turrets. The turret is protected by 7 to 16 inches of armor. As with other American battleship designs of the time, the massive turrets were simply "put" into the turret rings, their own massive weight holding them in place, and even when providing full broadsides, the Washington became a considerable Stable shooting platform.

This method allows the turret to fall off the ring when the ship capsizes and ensures that the sheer weight of the turret does not drag the entire ship along with her crew into the sea. Adding more offensive (and defensive) power to the ship, a set of 20 x 5-inch dual-purpose guns were placed around the port and starboard sides of the superstructure. These weapon systems are further supported by no less than 16x28 mm cannons.

Several 12 x .50 heavy machine guns formed Washington's last line of defense against incoming enemy aircraft. The CXAM-1 radar - the US Navy's first production radar - was used on the USS Washington.

Their belt armor varies in thickness from 6.5 to 12 inches, while their deck provides 1.5 to 5.5 inches of protection at various points.

History

When some British naval units were deployed near Madagascar in early 1942, the aircraft carrier Washington was admitted to the British Home Fleet in the North Atlantic and became the flagship of Task Force 39. Under the Lenten Lease Act, arranged by the Allies to support the Soviet fight against Nazism, TF39 was tasked with escorting supply convoys to Arkhangelsk and Murmansk in Russia.

With KMS Tirpitz - a sister ship to the German battleship KMS Bismarck - also posing a threat to the region, Washington acted as a watchdog in support of the Royal Navy. Washington served four months with the TF39 before returning to the United States for its first refit in July 1942.

Her next assignment is in the Pacific theater, where she goes to sea in Augustand will eventually spend most of the war. From Casco, Maine, Washington, it borders Scapa Flow. Rear Admiral John Walter Wilcox fell into the sea en route, when high waves rattled the ship.

The ship then fell under the command of Rear Admiral Willis Augustus Rice. Beginning on August 23, 1942, the USS Washington served in the Pacific Ocean for a total of 34 months.

When Washington arrived in Tonga in September 1942, it was deployed just two months later. Their first major mission was to intercept a Japanese naval task force near Guadalcanal. She mates with the USS South Dakota and other USN surface ships.

In the ensuing night operation - which formed the Third Battle of Savoie - Washington allied with South Dakota against the IJN battleship Kirishima. While the upper half of South Dakota was battered, the USS Washington's artillery stopped the fight for the Americans, which in turn took a heavy toll on Kirishima. Considered beyond repair, IJN Kirishima was sunk by her crew and the last major Japanese offensive on Guadalcanal was repelled - the first battleship battle of the USS Washington was a success. In fact, Washington was the only U.S. Navy capital ship to defeat an enemy capital ship throughout the war.

Washington's guns are also thought to have sank the IJN destroyer Ayanami in the same battle. For most of 1943, the USS Washington provided vital defensive escort for U.S. aircraft carriers in theater. Their network of anti-aircraft guns is key to protecting aircraft carriers full of aircraft.

Once upon a time, the USS Washington was the only USN Battleship class warship in the Pacific. She conducted five weeks of vital patrols in enemy waters, often working alone. For nearly 80 days, the Washington and her crew were on the run, which led to the ship's record 31,494 miles on steam.

During that time, she refueled at sea about 16 times, but she herself refueled 59 times for passing Allied destroyers.

Washington next used her guns to bomb Japanese positions on Nauru in December 1943, along with five other U.S. Navy battleships. In the early hours of February 1944, the USS Washington accidentally rammed the USS Indiana as the latter cut ahead of Washington's bow to refuel the waiting destroyers. The collision killed some of her crew in non-combat, and about 60 feet of Washington's bow was damaged so badly that she was sent back to Pearl Harbor for repairs. However, the damage was so severe that Pearl's engineers gave the battleship a makeshift bow so she could safely return to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for thorough repairs.

By mid-1944, the USS Washington was back in service with the U.S. fleet in the Pacific.

The USS Washington was again called in to bomb enemy positions, this time on Saipan and Tinian. Following these operations, she became part of the U.S. Navy in the naval battle of the Philippine Sea - also known as the "Great Mariana Turkey Shooting." In the ensuing operation, the U.S.

Navy's Fifth Fleet, commanded by Raymond A. Spruance, engaged the combined fleet of Admirals Jisaburo Ozawa and Kakuda Kakuda. 7 fleet carriers, 8 light carriers, 7 battleships, 28 submarines, and nearly 1,000 aircraft from the U.S. Navy face 5 fleet carriers, 4 light carriers, 5 battleships, and 750 aircraft from the Japanese Navy. The battle, which took place in the waters of the Philippines from June 19 to 20, 1944, was a decisive victory for the United States - 3 aircraft carriers and 2 oil tankers were sunk, and 6 other ships were badly damaged. What's more, 600 enemy planes were destroyed in the battle (hence the term "turkey shot").

By comparison, the U.S. Navy lost 123 aircraft but was still able to save 80 aircrews. The main difference in combat is the U.S. Navy's carrier-based attack aircraft, and the air defense network that protects the carrier group.

After the victory, Washington opened fire on Japanese positions on Iwo Jima (fighting February-March 1945) and Okinawa (April-June 1945) and supported the inevitable support of U.S. Marines and Army personnel Amphibious landing. After extensive bloodshed by ground forces on both sides, the islands eventually fell into the hands of advancing U.S. ground forces.

On July 1, 1945, the USS Washington was recalled to the United States for another major overhaul. Her stay at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard was extended until October, when the war against Japan had ended in August 1945, and on September 2, she was on the deck of the legendary Iowa-class battleship USS Missouri. end on.

By the end of World War II, the USS Washington had accumulated 289,609 miles during voyages. In total, she fired 3,535 rounds with her 16-inch cannon and 28,062 rounds with 5-inch ammunition. Both were defeated by their 20mm batteries, which fired more than 350,000 rounds.

She was also involved in repelling some 53 incoming enemy air strikes and destroyed several enemy surface ships - from battleships and destroyers to support ships and transports - none of which seemed safe from Washington Battleship.

Post-war period

The USS Washington was one of the U.S. Navy special ships that eventually served until the end of World War II, earning 13 Battle Stars in the process. With the end of the Pacific War, Washington returned to the east coast of the United States and participated in planned Navy Day celebrations. Soon after, Washington participated in "Operation Magic Carpet," bringing American soldiers home from overseas deployments.

The ship was officially decommissioned on June 27, 1947, and officially removed from the Naval Register on June 1, 1960exactly after her 20 years of service.

Like other U.S. Navy ships of the post-war period, the USS Washington was sold as scrap on May 24, 1961 - a disgrace to another fine U.S. Navy ship.