Map 2
In the years immediately preceding and following U.S. entry into
World War II, the BNY expanded, not only to better serve the greater
number of warships being manufactured for the Navy, but also to accomodate
their increasing size.
This map shows the extent of the Yard from about the time of the completion
of its expansion, to its closing, in 1966.
The primary feature of this expansion was the Yard's acquisition of the
eastern end of Wallabout Bay, previously occupied by the Wallabout Market,
a farmers' green market, which occupied the area between the then-Yard
proper and the U.S. Naval hospital.
In this acquired area the Yard built two large [1100' long] dry docks, #5
and #6, in order to construct aircraft carriers. Along side them were
built several large sub-assembly buildings, a new foundry, and a new
Material Laboratory.
Also, the island was reconfigured to serve as a fitting-out area and the
Yard's famous Hammerhead Crane placed on its western side. [It is
approximately where the top four-way fold crease is.]
On the west side of the Yard, the two building ways were increased to
about 1100 feet in length to handle the Iowa-class battleships that the
Yard began building in 1940 and immediately to their right the Yard put up
a large turret erection shop.
J Stobo (c)