Philyard

Philadelphia Ship Yard

Click on the thumbnails to view the photos.

The following photos were taken in the fall of 2002 in the NAVSEA Inactive Ship Facility at what used to be the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. While many ships are being held in inactive reserve status, even more are waiting to be scrapped or sunk. A few are recognizable newsmakers, but most are now nondescript, rusting hulks. This is a sad tribute to the contribution that they and their crews made to the security of the United States.
I greatly appreciate the resources of the Naval Vessel Register website for making it possible to identify the ships. Since most have had their markings painted over, it is difficult to be completely certain of all of the ships' identities. I apologize in advance if some prove to be incorrect.

One of the old drydocks is being used to break up a ship. This is the fate of many of those that are not so loaded with asbestos or lead to make it economically unfeasible.

The non-nuclear supercarrier America (CV 66) waiting for the breakers.

Like her sister ship, Salem, the Des Moines (CA 134) is one of the last heavy cruisers built in the U.S. The ship is being held in donation status, and some unsuccessful attempts have been made to move the ship and use it as a museum. However, after sitting for decades with little maintenance, the ship's general appearance is poor and one questions if it is economically feasible to do anything but scrap or sink it.

The USS Des Moines Historic Naval Ship Project is a group of individuals dedicated to saving this ship by taking it to Milwaukee and setting it up as a museum ship. Click on the image if you wish to visit their site, see its status and find out what you can do to help. This will open a new window.

The first photo shows the Charles Adams (DDG2) and two sister ships in the center background. The Adams was the first U.S. guided missile destroyer.

The Bigelow (DD942) on the left and Forrest Sherman (DD931) on the right. It is easy to tell most ships bound for the breaker by the way the gun barrels are de-militarized.

Charleston (LKA 113) Amphibious Cargo Ship with the Butte (AE27) Ammunition Ship tied along side. Both are in inactive reserve.

The sterns of the John Hancock (DD981) and the Moosbrugger (DD980). Both are in inactive reserve.

Inchon (MCS 12) started life as an Iwo Jima Class Amphibious Assault Ship, but was reconfigured to be a Mine Countermeasures Support ship after Desert Storm. She was decommissioned in 2002 after a boiler room fire caused serious damage, killed a crewman and injured several others.

Luce (DDG 38) is surrounded by MacDonough (DDG 39) on the left and Farragut (DDG 37) on the right. Sister ship Mahan (DDG 42) is tied up at another location. All four are waiting to be scrapped.

Peterson (DD 969) is a Spruance class destroyer that is slated to be sunk as a target or in a test.

Destroy Tender Puget Sound (AD 38) overwhelms the other ships tied up along side of her. The others, starting at Puget Sound, are Mobile (LKA 115), El Paso (LKA 117), John Hancock (DD981), and the Moosbrugger (DD980). All are on inactive reserve status.

San Diego (AFS 6) is a Combat Store Ship and is in inactive reserve.

Guided Missle Frigate U.S.S. Stark (FFG 31) is certainly a recognized name. She is tied up with sister ships Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) and Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34).

The following photos were taken in the fall of 2002 in the NAVSEA Inactive Ship Facility at what used to be the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. While many ships are being held in inactive reserve status, even more are waiting to be scrapped or sunk. A few are recognizable newsmakers, but most are now nondescript, rusting hulks. This is a sad tribute to the contribution that they and their crews made to the security of the United States. I greatly appreciate the resources of the Naval Vessel Register website for making it possible to identify the ships. Since most have had their markings painted over, it is difficult to be completely certain of all of the ships' identities. I apologize in advance if some prove to be incorrect.
	One of the old drydocks is being used to break up a ship. This is the fate of many of those that are not so loaded with asbestos or lead to make it economically unfeasible.
	The non-nuclear supercarrier America (CV 66) waiting for the breakers.
	Like her sister ship, Salem, the Des Moines (CA 134) is one of the last heavy cruisers built in the U.S. The ship is being held in donation status, and some unsuccessful attempts have been made to move the ship and use it as a museum. However, after sitting for decades with little maintenance, the ship's general appearance is poor and one questions if it is economically feasible to do anything but scrap or sink it.
The USS Des Moines Historic Naval Ship Project is a group of individuals dedicated to saving this ship by taking it to Milwaukee and setting it up as a museum ship. Click on the image if you wish to visit their site, see its status and find out what you can do to help. This will open a new window.
	The first photo shows the Charles Adams (DDG2) and two sister ships in the center background. The Adams was the first U.S. guided missile destroyer.
	The Bigelow (DD942) on the left and Forrest Sherman (DD931) on the right. It is easy to tell most ships bound for the breaker by the way the gun barrels are de-militarized.
	Charleston (LKA 113) Amphibious Cargo Ship with the Butte (AE27) Ammunition Ship tied along side. Both are in inactive reserve.
	The sterns of the John Hancock (DD981) and the Moosbrugger (DD980). Both are in inactive reserve.
	Inchon (MCS 12) started life as an Iwo Jima Class Amphibious Assault Ship, but was reconfigured to be a Mine Countermeasures Support ship after Desert Storm. She was decommissioned in 2002 after a boiler room fire caused serious damage, killed a crewman and injured several others.
	Luce (DDG 38) is surrounded by MacDonough (DDG 39) on the left and Farragut (DDG 37) on the right. Sister ship Mahan (DDG 42) is tied up at another location. All four are waiting to be scrapped.
	Peterson (DD 969) is a Spruance class destroyer that is slated to be sunk as a target or in a test.
	Destroy Tender Puget Sound (AD 38) overwhelms the other ships tied up along side of her. The others, starting at Puget Sound, are Mobile (LKA 115), El Paso (LKA 117), John Hancock (DD981), and the Moosbrugger (DD980). All are on inactive reserve status.
	San Diego (AFS 6) is a Combat Store Ship and is in inactive reserve.
	Guided Missle Frigate U.S.S. Stark (FFG 31) is certainly a recognized name. She is tied up with sister ships Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) and Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34).