Keywords: USS Washington (BB-56) launching ceremony, 1 June 1940.jpg The beginning of the launching ceremony for the first battleship built in the U S in almost twenty years crowds gather around the Washington BB-56 at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard on 1 June 1940 She is the 1st battleship built and launched by the USN since West Virginia BB-48 in November 1921 http //www navsource org/archives/01/56a htm navsource org stated as USN photo 1940-06-01 US Navy Employee PD-USGov-Military-Navy USS Washington BB-56 Philadelphia Naval Shipyard June 1940 Ship launchings |