'Washington' was flagship of Vice
Admiral Lee, Commander of the Third Fleet Battle Line, at Leyte Gulf.
Her most famous exploit
was her vital participation in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
on 15 November 1942, when - here too serving as Admiral Lee's flagship
- she destroyed the enemy battleship 'Kirishima' in one of the very
few classic battleship versus battleship engagements of World War 2. During the war
she probably received less publicity than any other United States capital
ship, but
ironically she had perhaps the most distinguished combat record of all
the Pacific Fleet's battleships.
This USS 'Washington' site is especially useful
as a resource for a project on Leyte Gulf as it contains detailed information
onthe types of anti-aircraft weapon
carried by 'Washington' in common with almost all the US ships involved
in the battle, thesebeing the 5-inch
38-calibre dual-purpose gun, and the light AA guns of 40mm. and 20mm. calibres.
