| World / USA / Massachusetts / Hingham, 3 km from center | Coordinates: 42°15'5"N 70°55'12"W |
Former Site of Hingham Shipyard
The site of the Hingham Shipyard was aquired by the US Navy in 1941 after the outbreak of WWII and was rapidly outfitted for the construction of warships by over $250 million dollars of funds from both the US Government & Bethlehem Steel. The yard worked in conjunction with Bethlehem Steel's shipyard at Quincy and by taking over the construction of smaller vessels allowed the larger yard at Quincy to focus its facilities on building and repairing larger vessels.
When completed, the Hingham Shipyard was fully equipped with 16 slipways as well as a steel mill for part fabrication. The yard commenced operations in early 1942 building Destroyer Escorts for both the US & Royal Navy to serve as convoy escorts in the U-Boat infested North Atlantic, and the yards 16 ways and over 24,000 workers soon began setting records for vessel construction. Some of the records which still stand are 16 keels laid in 1 day, one ship constructed and launched in 4 & 1/2 days, 25 days from keel laying to delivery on one ship and 10 Destroyer Escorts delivered in one month. By late 1943, the yard had constructed over 100 Destroyer Escorts which had helped turn the tide in the Battle of the North Atlantic.
1943 saw the orders for Destroyer Escorts dropping off and being replaced with newer, larger orders for Landing Craft to be used in the upcoming amphibious invasion of Fortress Europe. The Hingham Shipyard began construction of the new class of Tank Landing Ships, most of which were present on June 4th, 1944 when allied troops invaded Normandy and several of which crossed to the Pacific Theatre to assist with the invasions of Japanese-held territories in 1945.
By the end of WWII the Hingham Shipyard had built 227 ships and employed over 30000 workers. The Navy kept the yard open in reduced operational status following the war, but it was formally deactivated and closed in 1987. Following its closure, its Western portion was bought and converted into a marina and boatyard while the original slipways and steel mill area remained unused and abandoned. The entire yard facility was purchased in the late 1990s and is currently being developed as luxury condos, office space and a marina, with very few traces of the yard being preserved.
www.thehinghamshipyard.com/
www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/hingham.htm
When completed, the Hingham Shipyard was fully equipped with 16 slipways as well as a steel mill for part fabrication. The yard commenced operations in early 1942 building Destroyer Escorts for both the US & Royal Navy to serve as convoy escorts in the U-Boat infested North Atlantic, and the yards 16 ways and over 24,000 workers soon began setting records for vessel construction. Some of the records which still stand are 16 keels laid in 1 day, one ship constructed and launched in 4 & 1/2 days, 25 days from keel laying to delivery on one ship and 10 Destroyer Escorts delivered in one month. By late 1943, the yard had constructed over 100 Destroyer Escorts which had helped turn the tide in the Battle of the North Atlantic.
1943 saw the orders for Destroyer Escorts dropping off and being replaced with newer, larger orders for Landing Craft to be used in the upcoming amphibious invasion of Fortress Europe. The Hingham Shipyard began construction of the new class of Tank Landing Ships, most of which were present on June 4th, 1944 when allied troops invaded Normandy and several of which crossed to the Pacific Theatre to assist with the invasions of Japanese-held territories in 1945.
By the end of WWII the Hingham Shipyard had built 227 ships and employed over 30000 workers. The Navy kept the yard open in reduced operational status following the war, but it was formally deactivated and closed in 1987. Following its closure, its Western portion was bought and converted into a marina and boatyard while the original slipways and steel mill area remained unused and abandoned. The entire yard facility was purchased in the late 1990s and is currently being developed as luxury condos, office space and a marina, with very few traces of the yard being preserved.
www.thehinghamshipyard.com/
www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/hingham.htm
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