Why America’s Battleship Graveyard is Forgotten

Tens of millions of travelers pass through Philadelphia International Airport every year. A short distance from one of its runways sits a line of gray hulls that look abandoned. The ships rest in still water at the Philadelphia Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility.

Visitors often mistake them for scrap, yet many once served in major Cold War and modern era operations. The base is part of the national mothball fleet, a network of preserved vessels that wait for disposal or possible reuse.

How the Mothball Fleet Works

These ships do not simply sit in place. The Navy removes fuel and weapons, seals the interiors, and places an electrical charge through the hull to slow corrosion. This process preserves the vessels for years. Parts are often removed for use in active ships, a practice known as cannibalization. For many vessels, this becomes their final role.

USS Barry DD 933

The oldest ship once stored in Philadelphia was the destroyer USS Barry.

She entered service in 1956 and quickly became a workhorse of the Atlantic Fleet. Barry took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade and later supported operations in Vietnam. She also helped recover the Gemini 4 space mission. After extensive upgrades, she returned to service with improved sonar and anti submarine weapons. Barry eventually became a museum ship, although declining attendance led to her return to the mothball fleet and later scrapping.

USS John F. Kennedy CV 67

The carrier USS John F. Kennedy served across multiple decades and carried out major operations during the Yom Kippur War, peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, and the Gulf War.

During Operation Desert Storm her air crews launched thousands of sorties. The ship continued to serve into the twenty first century but became too expensive to maintain. She retired to Philadelphia in 2009 and still awaits a final decision on her fate.

USS Ticonderoga CG 47

The cruiser USS Ticonderoga was the first of her class and participated in operations from Lebanon to the Gulf War.

She later assisted in homeland defense after the attacks of September 11. After decommissioning, she remained in Philadelphia until 2022 when she was towed to Texas for scrapping.

A Fleet Waiting for Closure

Philadelphia once held some of the Navy’s most decorated and technologically advanced ships. Their service records span from the Cold War to the war on terror.

The yard remains quiet today because maintenance costs, limited museum funding, and strict environmental rules leave few options for these aging vessels. Many wait in place until decisions are made, which has created a forgotten battleship graveyard beside one of the nation’s busiest airports.