USS Colorado (BB-45), 5-inch, 51 caliber gun: Accession# 1960-229-G.
17-19 May, 2023: Gun Removal
Adopted by the U.S. Navy before World War I for anti-torpedo defense, the 5-inch, 51 caliber gun became the standard Navy battleship secondary gun during the war. For World War II, the gun was part of the armament onboard battleships, cruisers, escort aircraft carriers, and submarines. Manufactured at the Washington Navy Yard, this gun was later mounted amidships on board USS Colorado (BB-45) during World War II. For display in the museum’s weapons exhibit area, the Mark XV Mod 0 version was installed on a Mark XIII Mode XI gun mount. In the 1970s, the gun was utilized for our World War I exhibit. Transferred to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia, it will be cared for by the on-site staff as a rest period for the object.
Move of the 5"/51 gun from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, May 19, 2023.
Click on image to view the move.
NMUSN-5114: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5115: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed while being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. Technicians work to remove the gun’s wooden base. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5116: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed while being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. The gun’s wooden base has been removed, and it is being prepared to be lifted by the cranes so a Hilman Traksporter can be utilized to move it through the museum. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5117: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed while being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. The gun’s wooden base has been removed, and it is being prepared to be lifted by the cranes so a Hilman Traksporter can be utilized to move it through the museum. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5118: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed while being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. The cranes will lift the gun so a Hilman Traksporter can be utilized to move it through the museum. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5119: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed while being prepared for movement through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5120: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5121: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. Note the 5” gun to USS Reno (CL-96) to the right. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5122: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. Note the 5” gun to USS Reno (CL-96) to the left. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5123: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. Note the suspended FG-1D Corsair. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5124: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. The gun arrives at the Exhibit Work Shop spaces for transportation via truck. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5125: 5”/51 Caliber Gun, May 2023. Gun is photographed moving through the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., for transfer to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility, at Richmond, Virginia. A Hilman Traksporter is utilized to move it through the museum. The gun arrives at the Exhibit Work Shop spaces for transportation via truck. Official National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
5"/51 Caliber Gun as it looked while on display in the World War I section of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
