Lake Washington Shipyards: A Vital Contribution to WWII Naval Shipbuilding

Lake Washington Shipyards, located in Houghton, Washington, was a relatively small repair yard before World War II. However, as the war approached, it was rapidly transformed into a shipbuilding facility to support the U.S. Navy’s increasing demand for vessels. At its peak during the war, Lake Washington Shipyards employed around 6,000 workers, a testament to its significant role in the war effort. Although the shipyard was closed shortly after World War II, its legacy lives on, with the former site now being part of the Carillon Point commercial and residential development.

Pre-War and Wartime Transformation

Originally focused on ship repair, Lake Washington Shipyards was activated for shipbuilding just before the United States entered World War II. The yard’s capabilities were quickly expanded to accommodate the construction of a variety of vessels, particularly for the Navy. By the height of the war, the yard was producing vital ships, such as seaplane tenders (AVPs) and net tenders (YN/AN), essential for both patrol and support operations in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.

Notable Ships Built at Lake Washington Shipyards

While Lake Washington Shipyards was smaller than some of the massive shipyards operating on the U.S. coasts, it still managed to construct a number of key ships that served during and after the war. Below are some of the most significant vessels built at the yard:

  1. Aloe (YN-1): Launched on January 11, 1941, this net tender was later redesignated as AN-6 in 1944. Aloe was part of the critical fleet of net tenders used to deploy and maintain anti-submarine nets during the war. The ship was scrapped in 1971.
  2. Chincoteague (AVP-24): Laid down on July 23, 1941, and launched on April 15, 1942, Chincoteague served as a seaplane tender. After the war, it was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard as WAVP-375 in 1948, and later to the Vietnamese and Philippine navies under different names, including Andres Bonifacio.
  3. Bering Strait (AVP-34): Laid down on June 7, 1943, and delivered on January 15, 1944, Bering Strait was another seaplane tender that saw service during the war. After the war, it served in the U.S. Coast Guard before being transferred to the Vietnamese Navy as Tran Quang Khai (HQ-15).
  4. Absecon (AVP-23): One of the earliest AVPs built at the yard, Absecon was laid down on July 23, 1941, and delivered in January 1943. After the war, it was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and later to the Vietnamese Navy. Its final disposition remains unknown.

Seaplane Tenders (AVPs): Key to Maritime Operations

The seaplane tenders (AVP class) built at Lake Washington Shipyards were vital assets during the war. These ships supported seaplane operations, enabling reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and search-and-rescue missions in remote areas of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. With their onboard repair facilities, fuel storage, and supply capabilities, AVPs extended the operational range of seaplanes, making them indispensable for naval patrol duties.

Several of these vessels were later transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and other allied navies, where they continued to serve well into the Cold War era.

Post-War Closure and Legacy

After the war, the reduced demand for naval vessels led to the closure of Lake Washington Shipyards. By the late 1940s, the yard had ceased operations, and its facilities were eventually repurposed. The site of the shipyard is now part of the Carillon Point development, a mixed-use complex that includes commercial, residential, and recreational spaces.

Although the shipyard no longer exists, the ships that were constructed there left a lasting legacy. Many of these vessels played important roles in U.S. and allied naval operations, both during World War II and in the years that followed.

Lake Washington Shipyards may have been smaller in scale compared to some of the major shipbuilding facilities of the era, but its contributions to the U.S. Navy’s wartime efforts were significant. The ships it produced, particularly the seaplane tenders, were critical to naval operations during World War II. Today, the site of the shipyard has been transformed, but the historical impact of the yard and the skilled workers who supported the war effort remains a key part of the region’s maritime history.