Shortridge, Dan F. Philadelphia's Fighting Fleet

War Stories of 25 Ships from America’s First Navy Yard

The ships built in Philadelphia fought their way across the globe: they confronted Japanese warplanes at Pearl Harbor, sank submarines off the Italian coast, bombarded targets in North Korea, and supported US military operations in Vietnam. Their crews welcomed kings and queens, knelt in prayer before battle, and tossed snowballs at one another on deck. *Philadelphia's Fighting Fleet* chronicles the significant maritime heritage of the United States' founding city through twenty-five vessels built there. From the sailing ship USS *Franklin*launched in 1815to the modern command ship USS *Blue Ridge* (the last vessel built at the yard and still in service today), these ships reflect more than a century and a half of technological evolution and naval history. In addition to the stories of the individual ships, the book explores the history of the shipyard itselfthe nation's first naval shipyard, originally established in 1776 and relocated to League Island in the 1870s. At the peak of its operations during World War II, the yard employed over 40,000 workers who built and repaired ships for the war effort around the clock. The final ship was launched in the 1970s; the shipyard closed in the 1990s and is now being redeveloped for new uses. *Philadelphia's Fighting Fleet* is a tribute to these ships and the city where they were built. The book is aimed at Navy veterans, military enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the industrial and maritime history of Philadelphia.