Christening The ship's sponsor prepares to break the traditional bottle against the ship's bow. Some workers ride the ship to the water while others watch from areas at the left. Unlike the ships shown in the launching photos above, some ships were launched with virtually no superstructure completed. Much of their visible structure was then built pierside. Earle was launched just three weeks before this photo was taken.
Knight is further along, having been launched three months ago.
Staten Island Four destroyers are seen in this 9 July 1945 view of the Bethlehem Steel facility.