While studying a power plant in the former Brooklyn Navy Yard, I noticed a big crane beside a graving dock that has yet to be scrapped. And three of the graving docks were occupied. So I did some research on the shipyard itself.
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted Aerial view of the U.S. Navy New York Brooklyn Naval Shipyard on 15 April 1945. There are four aircraft carriers under construction: USS Reprisal (CV-35) in Dry Dock No. 6; USS Coral Sea, later renamed USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) in Dry Dock No. 5; USS Kearsarge (CV-33); USS Oriskany (CV-34) (not visible behind Kearsarge). Nara Image |
To read about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard is to read about the history of the U.S. Navy and key events in the early life of this country. In 1776, General Washington moved his troops from this area to Manhattan when retreating from British soldiers during the Battle of Long Island. A private shipyard was established in the surrounding muddy marshlands in 1781 and was purchased for $40,000 by the fledgling U.S. Navy in 1801 for what would become known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Many well-known ships were constructed at the yard over the next 150 years. The first to be built, the USS Ohio, was one of the largest battleships of its time and was launched in 1820. The USS Monitor was outfitted and commissioned at the yard in 1862 before the Battle at Hampton Roads against the CSS Virginia. The USS Maine was commissioned in 1895 to begin the "battleship era" and served as a call to arms three years later when it was sunk in Havana Harbor, sparking the Spanish-American War. The USS Arizona was launched from the yard in 1915 only to experience a similar fate at Pearl Harbor in 1941.During WWII, the yard’s workforce peaked at 70,000 with many "Rosie the Riveters" doing their part for the war effort. In the mid-1950s the yard turned out three of the new "super carriers," but by the early 1960s major shipbuilding contracts had migrated to lower-cost yards. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was closed in 1966 and later sold to the City of New York for $24 million. Today, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. (www.brooklynnavyyard.com) is a thriving 300-acre industrial park including 40 buildings and more than 200 tenants as it enters its third century of service.[powermag]
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| The Warshipologist posted FIVE CARRIERS AT "THE CAN DO SHIPYARD" The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a busy place on February 28, 1959. Work on no less than five of the Navy's aircraft carriers is in progress. In Dry Dock #5 is the USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39), undergoing regular overhaul and repairs, and to the right in Dry Dock #6 is the Kitty Hawk class supercarrier Constellation (CVA-64), in the early stages of construction. The carrier was scheduled for completion in 1961 but not before a serious fire claimed the lives of 50 yard workers in December 1960. At the piers projecting into the river is the Essex class carrier USS Leyte (CVS-32) alongside Pier G, which is being put into mothballs. She was decommissioned the following April. To the right alongside Pier J is the Forrestal class supercarrier USS Independence (CVA-62), which had been placed into commission on January 10 that year. Furthest right is the Essex class carrier USS Valley Forge (CVS-45), which was in the yard for emergency repairs when a section of her flight deck was torn away in a storm. The decommissioned Franklin, in mothballs at Bayonne, had part of her flight deck taken as a replacement. The view is northwest toward Manhattan. Rick Gunderson: BNY was part of an incredible naval industrial base; most of which is gone now. The Navy is now trying to rebuild some of that capability to deal with a huge maintenance backlog that the few remaining Navy and commercial yards just can't address. |
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| 𝓚𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓲 posted A 1981 view looking southwest: Wallabout Bay and East River (foreground), Hudson River (at right), Upper New York Bay (left) and Newark Bay in the distance. [And the naval yard in the left foreground.] |
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| Heavy Metal posted USS Arizona BB 39 passes under the Brooklyn Bridge during WW1. [It is probably headed to this shipyard.] |
The two GMD photos below this satellite image establish that the three graving docks highlighted in red are still used by GMD Shipyard.
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| 3D Satellite |
The two smokestacks in the background are for the power plant.
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| gmdshipyard |
This photo is of the above graving dock, but in the opposite directions.
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| MilitaryHistoria posted American Battleship USS South Carolina in a drydock at the Brooklyn Naval Yard, Circa 1912. Chris Lawrick: Actually, designed before Dreadnought, but laid down after. Her eight 12" guns gave her the same broadside as Dreadnought's ten, and included super firing turrets which became the standard. Steven Carrara: the old domino sugar factory in the background too Larry Groves: The USS South Carolina was decommissioned on December 15, 1921. The Brooklyn U.S. Naval Shipyard closed in 1966. John Bauer: This is actually the USS New York. I Love Warships posted Battleship USS South Carolina (BB-26) drydocked at the Brooklyn Navy yard, september 1912. |
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| gmdshipyard |
This shows an interesting collection of gantry cranes. Although one of them doesn't have a boom.
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| Maximillian, Sep 2021 |
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| gmdshipyard |
I noticed that the gantry cranes seem to move from one photo to another. Taking a closer look at a satellite image, one can see the tracks that the cranes can run on.
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| Satellite |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (September 1898) USS Oregon (BB-3) in dry dock, Brooklyn Navy Yard. |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Plunger (Submarine # 2) Underway off the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., circa 1909. Note the coal-handling facility in the center background. U.S. Navy Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USN Battleship USS Michigan BB-27 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard 3 October 1911/USN Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (10/3/1913) USS New York in Dry in Dock Number 4...Brooklyn Navy Yard /USN Image John Christopher Butler: Sister ship of the famous (and surviving) Texas! |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Arizona BB-39 At Launch Approaching End of Ways,19 June 1915 at the Brooklyn Navy yard in Nyc. USN image/Nara |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY seen from the air in 1918/Nhhc Image |
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| National Naval Aviation Museum posted View of the carrier Langley (CV 1) with Boeing FB-5s and Curtis TS-1s spotted on the flight deck at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1927. In the background as tugs assist the battleship West Virginia (BB 48) out of her berth. MilitaryPhotoDepot shared |
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| Battle Stations Naval Warfare posted U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60) in the New York Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, May 1956. NNAM Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS North Carolina (BB-55) slides down the building ways, as she is launched at the Brooklyn New York Navy Yard, 13 June 1940. Note the slope of her side armor, angled outward 15 degrees to increase its effective thickness against incoming enemy shells. Nara Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted The French battleship Richelieu underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 26 August 1943, after her refit at the New York Naval Shipyard (USA).USN Image |
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| Jessamyn Harter posted Battleship Iowa under construction, New York Navy Yard, New York, United States, Jul 1941. |
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| Battle Stations Naval Warfare posted (3/28/1943) USS Iowa BB-61 Brooklyn Naval shipyard undergoing an incline experiment..Nara Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted Photograph of the USS Missouri (BB-63) under construction at the Brooklyn Navy yard in NY..1/27/1944 USN Photo |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Missouri (BB-63) Approaching the end of the building ways as she is launched, 29 January 1944, at the New York Brooklyn Navy Yard. U.S. Nhhc Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York Aerial photograph, taken 9 March 1944. USS Missouri (BB-63) is fitting out in the center. Carrier at the bottom is probably USS Bennington (CV-20). U.S. Nhhc image |
I don't know if this was built in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but it is enough of a "wow" that I'm going to include it anyhow. They obviously strap the planes down.
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Langley (CVL-27) Rolling sharply as she rides out a Pacific storm. Photographed from USS Essex (CV-9). The original photograph is dated 13 January 1945, but Morison, History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II, Vol. 13, captions this view as having been taken during the Great Typhoon of 18 December 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Don Midgette: A few months later, January 1950, she would run aground on Thimble Shoals while departing Hampton Roads. There is still a bit of a trough in that part of the bay where they dredged around her to pull her off. A few of the “Older Seamen” still call it “the MO hole!” Mike Andrews: This was the “ Caine Mutiny Storm “ . There where incredible problems during that typhoon . Before and at the start of the storm , many ships in the fleet were very low on fuel. And although the US was very proficient at fueling up at sea, the rough seas made bunkering ( fueling ) impossible. Because most naval vessels don’t have ballast tanks , they use fuel to balance out the roll and trim. Common practice was to fill fuel tanks with sea water to displace the fuel upwards …. One can only imagine the problems with heavy seas. …. As for storing planes below the flight deck. There were several fires aboard the Aircraft Carriers from aircraft breaking loose and getting tossed about down below . People were dodging broken lose bombs . And fighting burning gasoline . One can only imagine fighting a fire in rough seas . To this day there is much debate about Fleet Admiral William Halsey’s decision to steam into the storm …. Knowing full well several ships were very low on fuel. ( Ironically he was aboard a large Iowa class battleship that tried to fuel several ships. ) Robert Krasevec: I WAS ON THE USS WASP CVS18 IN 1970 IN A NOREASTER. I WAS ON THE ADMIRALS BRIDGE WITH THE ADMIRAL IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC WHEN A WAVE HIT THE ISLAND (TOWER) OF THE CARRIER KNOCKING US DOWN AND SOAKING US. WE LOST 3 PLANES AND 7 MEN AND THE SHIP HAD ALOT OF DAMAGE! Pamela Kinnane: Devastating toll on the fleet, with three destroyers and 800 sailors lost. Lest We Forget William Douglas Hemmings: Now that's a roll. I was used to it in destroyers because it was normal. But I think I would have been a tad anxious on a carrier. |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (Original Color) USS Franklin (CV-13) View on the flight deck, while the carrier was in New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945. She had just returned from the Pacific for repair of battle damage received off Japan on 19 March 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Franklin (CV-13) returning to Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs following Japanese bomb hit on March 19, 1945 in Inland Sea, Japan. "Old Glory" flying from her shattered mast, the brave flat-top enters New York harbor." Caption on Negative Sleeve: "The USS Franklin - gallant ESSEX-class carrier, badly damaged by enemy bombs in the Japanese Inland sea, March 19, 1945, returns to the Brooklyn Navy Yard under her own power." USN Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Missouri BB-63 Anchored in Tokyo Bay, Japan, 2 September 1945, the day that Japanese surrender ceremonies were held on her deck. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection . |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (10/13/1945) USS Oriskany (CV-34), being launched at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York. U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the Nara Mike Raso: I was on her deck about 10 years ago and 120’ under water. Now an artificial reef off Pensacola. |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42 commissioning ceremonies, at the New York Brooklyn Navy Yard, on Navy Day, 27 October 1945. NARA |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (9/2/1949) USS Missouri (BB-63) Ship's crew and midshipmen celebrate the fourth anniversary of V-J Day, during the Midshipmen's cruise. They are gathered around the plaque that marks the spot where Japan surrendered on 2 September 1945. Turret Two is trained as it was during the surrender ceremonies. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Tarawa, CV-40 with the Brooklyn Bridge and city skyline in background, NYC USN Image John McGrath: 1951??? |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted USS Enterprise CV-6 Awaiting disposal at the New York Naval Shipyard on 22 June 1958. She was sold for scrapping ten days later, on 2 July. USS Independence (CVA-62) is fitting out on the opposite side of the pier. Ships visible in the left foreground include (from front): USS DeLong (DE-684), USS Coates (DE-685) and USS Hoe (SS-258). Ten other destroyers are also present, as is a Liberty type ship. The Schaefer brewery is visible in the center background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. |
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| The Warshipologist posted USS Independence (CVA-62) under construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in June 1958, about 6 months before she was commissioned. Can you identify the ship moored opposite her? |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted August 21st 1958. The USS Enterprise (CV-6) made her final voyage as she moved from the Brooklyn Navy Yard to the scrapper in New Jersey. |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted CVA 64 USS Constellation under construction Brooklyn Naval Yard NYC 3/18/1960..USN Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (3/18/1960) USS Constellation CVA-64 under construction Brooklyn Naval Shipyard ,NY..USN Image/Nara |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (4/9/1960) USS Topeka CLG-8 at Brooklyn Naval Shipyard NY, Nara Image |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (7/16/1960) USS Constellation CVA-64 Under construction at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, NY USN Image/Nara |
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| Battleship Missouri Memorial posted New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Aerial photograph, taken 79 years ago today. Missouri (BB-63) is fitting out in the center. Carrier at the bottom is likely the Bennington (CV-20). |
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| [In response to a comment about the black blob about a third of the way in from the bow:] Mike Southwell commented on the above post Think that's the crane. |
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| Rob O'Brien commented on the above post The view today of the same footprint. |
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| Army Military posted USS. Arizona, then one of the largest and newest of Uncle Sam's sea fighters passing out to sea under the Brooklyn Bridge on her first voyage since being put in commission. [Some comments remarked it is inbound instead of outbound.] Chris Santos: It is going out to sea. The point closest to the viewer is the stern, not the bow. Note the lack of anchors and “ARIZONA” emblazoned on the hull. US Navy ships only put the name of the ship at the stern. [But then I saw:] Mike Newhard: Correct - heading inbound . AWESOME picture !!! Honor and glory and respect !!! Kevin Seymour: Mike Newhard Yes, first vessel equipped with the concealed anchors, and breaking with tradition, the name on the bow. [But then:] Alyssa Roberts: Why are the two sailors/marines at the bow standing facing aft/backwards? That’s what it sure looks like! Breck Hollis: Alyssa Roberts That's the stern. Yeah, it's pointy but that's they way they built them then. |
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| MilitaryPhotoDepot posted (1/14/1917) USS Indiana (BB-1) Maybe at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard USN Image. Bob Bates: Looking at the buildings in the background most likely not the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Angel Yasig: Brooklyn navy yard |
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| Comments on the above post |
ReplyDeleteIts always spectacular, when stuck on the BQE Park Ave viaduct in evening traffic, to look across and see on the gantry crane boom tips perfectly aligned with the top of a festively-lit Empire State Building.
The re-re-development of the Navy Yard has been interesting. They ostensibly "try" to maintain a safe place for industrial use among some of the most expensive real estate around, but the juxtaposition of the "cruise ship looking building" (Dock 72), developed by WeWork (there's the punchline...), situated next to an active graving dock illustrates the challenge. Two other big tenants include a large sound-stage complex (Steiner Studios), a distribution warehouse for B&H Photo (a well known store in Manhattan with a large internet business), and cement and aggregate barge/ship to truck storage and loading facilities on the northwestern piers.
Another recent development on the edge of the property included a Wegman's supermarket, in an area long under-served by supermarkets.
I also know several actual industrial tenants that have been pushed out in order to accommodate "higher value" tech businesses. One remaining unloved tenant is an NYPD tow pound.
The fact that the graving docks remain illustrates the value BNYDC sees in these to the regional economy, especially after losses of similar ones in Red Hook to the IKEA development (can't make this up...).
Thanks for the local insight.
DeleteI'll also add the the "Master Plan" for the Navy Yard's "$2.5B in development" is nigh impossible to obtain, which is unfortunate for such an important public authority.
ReplyDelete