Hawaii (CB 3) Leaving the launching ways at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N. J. on 3 November 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-354097.

Hawaii (CB 3) Under construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey on 3 July 1946. The after 12" turret and three after 5" mounts are in place--the latter without their shields. Shipyard gear and men on deck indicate that construction was still underway, but little additional visible progress was made before work was officially suspended on 17 February 1947. Courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 93585.

Hawaii (CB 3) The stack area of the ship during construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey on 8 January 1947. Visible preparations for mothballing include plating over the top of the stack and over the empty 5" gun position to port. Construction was officially suspended on 17 February 1947. Note shipyard workers' graffiti, apparently related to a union election. Courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 93588.

Hawaii (CB 3) The bridge area of the ship during construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey on 8 January 1947. Construction was officially suspended on 17 February 1947, when the ship was 82.4 percent complete. Note shipyard workers' graffiti, apparently related to a union election. Courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 93587.

This 1949 photo taken from the endpapers of New York Shipbuilding's 50th anniversary book, shows Newton Creek at high tide. The view is to the southeast, toward Gloucester Heights. Yorkship Village (Fairview) is at the upper left, flanked by the North Branch and the wide tidal floodplain of the creek's main channel. A causeway bridge across the main channel links Yorkship Village's Collings Road with Gloucester at the upper right. A rail line (note the freight train) follows the west bank of the creek. Conspicuously missing from this image are the east end of the Walt Whitman Bridge, I-676, and the bridge interchange, all built in the late 1950s. Most of the tidal floodplain seen here was filled and the course of the North Branch was altered during construction. The mouth of Newton Creek is at the center right. A heavy cruiser or battleship is moored in the creek. Another capital ship occupies one of the open slipways. Portions of two light carriers can be seen in the wet slip at the lower left, adjacent to the covered slipways.

In the lower left of center of the photo are two CVL’s afloat and fitting-out. I believe this to be the sisters Saipan (CVL 48) and Wright (CVL 49), the last two CVL’s to be built. This being the case, the photo would have to have taken in the time period between 1 September 1945 (launch of CVL 49) and 14 July 1946 (commissioning of CVL 48).

The large vessel fitting out to the right of the carriers, afloat and under cover, appears to be an Alaska Class Large Cruiser. Hawaii (CB 3) was launched on 3 November 1945, and construction photos show the fitting out of the vessel under cover.

Not seen on the stocks is another light cruiser, New Haven (CL 109), which was launched 14 December 1945, 67.8% complete. Construction was canceled 14 August 45.

The is also what appears to be a Baltimore class heavy cruiser at the far right of the photo, in near-complete condition. Toledo (CA 133) was launched in May 1945, and commissioned 27 October 1946. In the early spring of 1946, this vessel may have been this far along in its fitting-out, to have reached the ship’s condition of the photo, but that is only speculation, on my part.

Hawaii (CB 3) The forward portion of the ship during construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey on 8 January 1947. Construction was officially suspended on 17 February 1947. Her three 12-inch gun turrets were removed when the ship was moved to the Philadelphia Reserve Fleet. Courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 93586.

Reserve Fleet Basin, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, photographed on 19 May 1955 with numerous cruisers, escort carriers, and auxiliaries in reserve.

The nearest ship is the never-completed Hawaii (CB 3), which lacks its previously-installed three 12" gun turrets.

The cruisers outboard of Hawaii are (in unknown order) Honolulu (CL 48), Columbia (CL 56), Denver (CL 58), Galveston (CL 93), and Portsmouth (CL 102).

To their left are Tranquility (AH 14), Sanctuary (AH 17), and Pocono (AGC 16).

Behind Hawaii (from left to right) are Montpelier (CL 57), Houston (CL 81), Huntington (CL 107), Savannah (CL 42), Cleveland (CL 55), and Wilkes-Barre (CL 103).

Beyond them (from left to right) are Wichita (CA 45), Oregon City (CA 122), Chester (CA 27), and New Orleans (CA 32).

The cruisers on the left side of the basin (from front to rear) are Minneapolis (CA 36), Tuscaloosa (CA 37), San Francisco (CA 38), Augusta (CA 31), Louisville (CA 28), and Portland (CA 33).

Among the other ships in reserve in the basin are Fomalhaut (AE 20), Webster (ARV 2), Albemarle (AV 5), Tangier (AV 8), Pocomoke (AV 9), Chandeleur (AV 10), Abatan (AW 4), Mission San Carlos (AO 120), Prince William (CVE 31), Anzio (CVE 57), Block Island (CVE 106), Palau (CVE 122), and San Carlos (AVP 51).

Moored in the shipyard at the extreme left are Tennessee (BB 43), California (BB 44), and Cabot (CVL 28).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-668655).

The unfinished Hawaii being removed for scrapping, Note 12" turrets have been removed.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 89293.