List of battleships of the United States Navy
Ships of the United States Navy | |
---|---|
Ships in current service | |
Ships grouped alphabetically | |
Ships grouped by type | |
The
Except for
No American battleship has ever been lost at sea, though four were sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Of these, only USS Arizona (BB-39) and USS Oklahoma (BB-37) were permanently destroyed as a result of enemy action. Several other battleships have been sunk as targets, and USS Utah, demilitarized and converted into a target and training ship, was permanently destroyed at Pearl Harbor. The hulk of Oklahoma was salvaged and was lost at sea while being towed to the mainland for scrapping. Two American-built pre-dreadnought battleships, USS Mississippi (BB-23) and her sister USS Idaho (BB-24), were sunk in 1941 by German bombers during their World War II invasion of Greece. The ships had been sold to Greece in 1914, becoming Kilkis and Lemnos respectively.
1880s–1910s
The dreadnoughts, BB-26 South Carolina through BB-35 Texas, commissioned between 1910 and 1914, uniformly possessed twin turrets, introduced the superimposed turret arrangement that would later become standard on all battleships, and had relatively heavy armor and moderate speed (19–21 knots, 35–39 km/h, 22–24 mph). Five of the ten ships used the established vertical triple expansion (VTE) propulsion rather than faster direct-drive turbines, used by the British which had higher fuel consumption. The ships had 8 (South Carolina class), 10 (Delaware and Florida) or 12 (Wyoming class) 12-inch guns, or 10 (New York class) 14-inch (356 mm) guns. The dreadnoughts gave good service, the last two classes surviving through World War II before being scrapped. However, they had some faults that were never worked out, and the midships turrets in the ten and twelve-gun ships were located near boilers and high-pressure steam lines, a factor that made refrigeration very difficult and problematic in hot climates. One of their number, Texas (BB-35), is the last remaining American battleship of the pre–World War II era and the only remaining dreadnought in the world.
Next came the twelve Standards, beginning with BB-36 Nevada, commissioned over the period 1914 to 1920. The last ship commissioned was BB-48 West Virginia (BB-49 through 54 were also Standards, but were never commissioned, and scrapped under the
1930s–1940s
After the 1930s "builders holiday," the USN commissioned ten more battleships of an entirely new style, the so-called fast battleship. These ships began with BB-55 North Carolina and the last ship
In October 2006, the last battleships, (USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin), were stricken from the Naval Registry.
Key
Main guns | The number and type of the main battery guns |
---|---|
Armor | Waterline belt thickness |
Displacement | Ship displacement at full load |
Propulsion | Number of shafts , type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
|
Service | The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate |
Laid down | The date the keel began to be assembled |
Launched | The date the ship was launched
|
Commissioned | The date the ship was commissioned |
Second-class battleship
USS Texas (1892)
The acquisition of modern, European-built warships by
Texas was authorized by
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Texas[16] | 2 x 12 in (305 mm)[22] | 12 in (305 mm)[23] | 6,316 long tons (6,417 t)[21] | 2 x steam engines 2 x screws 17.8 kn (33.0 km/h; 20.5 mph)[21] |
1 June 1889[11] | 28 June 1892[11] | 15 August 1895[11] | Sunk as target ship, 21–22 March 1912[11] |
Pre-dreadnought battleships
Indiana class
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Indiana (BB-1) |
4 x 13 in (330 mm)[24] | 18 in (457 mm)[25] | 10,288 long tons (10,453 t)[26] | 2 × Vertical triple expansion steam (VTE) engines 2 x screws 4 x boilers[27] |
7 May 1891[28] | 28 February 1893[29] | 20 November 1895[30] | Sunk as a target, 1 November 1920 Sold for scrap, 19 March 1924[28] |
USS Massachusetts (BB-2) |
25 June 1891[31] | 10 June 1893[32] | 10 June 1896 2 May 1910 9 June 1917[33] |
Scuttled, 6 January 1921[33]
| ||||
USS Oregon (BB-3) |
19 November 1891[31] | 26 October 1893[34] | 15 July 1896 29 August 1911[35] |
Sold for scrap, 15 March 1956[35] |
USS Iowa
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Iowa (BB-4) |
4 x 12 in (305 mm)[36] | 14 in (356 mm) | 11,346 long tons (11,528 t) | 2 x Vertical triple expansion steam (VTE) engines 2 x screws 4 x boilers[37] |
5 August 1893[38] | 28 March 1896[38] | 16 June 1897[39] | Sunk as gunnery target, 23 March 1923[38] |
Kearsarge class
These two ships were authorized under the Act of 2 March 1895, and were both built by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Kearsarge (BB-5) |
4 x 13 in (330 mm)[40] | 16.5 in (419 mm)[41] | 11,540 long tons (11,730 t)[42] | 2 x Vertical triple expansion steam (VTE) engines 2 x screws 5 x boilers[42] |
30 June 1896[41] | 24 March 1898[43] | 20 February 1900[44] | Sold for scrap, 9 August 1955[45] |
USS Kentucky (BB-6) |
30 June 1896[41] | 24 March 1898[43] | 15 May 1900[46] | Sold for scrap, 24 March 1923[47] |
Illinois class
- Displacement: 11,565 tons
- Armament: 4 × 13 in (330 mm) (2x2), 14 × 6 in (152 mm) (14x1), 16 × 6 pounders (2.7 kg) (16x1), 6 × 1 pounders (454 g) (6x1), 4 torpedo tubes
- Speed: 17 knots
- Ships in class: 3: USS Illinois, USS Alabama, and USS Wisconsin
- Commissioned: 16 October 1900 (Alabama)
- Decommissioned 15 May 1920 (Illinois, Wisconsin)
- Fate: Illinois transferred to New York Naval Militia 1921, renamed Prairie State 1941, scrapped 1956; Alabama sunk as target 1921; Wisconsin scrapped 1922.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Illinois (BB-7) |
4 x 13 in (330 mm) | 12,250 long tons (12,450 t) | 10 February 1897 | 4 October 1898 | 16 September 1901 | Transferred to New York Naval Militia 1921, renamed Prairie State 1941, scrapped 1956 | ||
USS Alabama (BB-8) |
2 December 1896 | 18 May 1898 | 16 October 1900 | Sunk as target 1921 | ||||
USS Wisconsin (BB-9) |
9 February 1897 | 26 November 1898 | 4 February 1901 | Scrapped 1922 |
Maine class
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Maine (BB-10) |
4 × 12 in (300 mm) | 11 in (280 mm) | 12,500 long tons (12,700 t) | 15 February 1899 | 27 July 1901 | 29 December 1902 | Scrapped 1922 | |
USS Missouri (BB-11) |
7 February 1900 | 28 December 1901 | 1 December 1903 | Scrapped 1922 | ||||
USS Ohio (BB-12) |
22 April 1899 | 18 May 1901 | 4 October 1904 | Scrapped 1922 |
Virginia class
- Displacement: 15,000 tons
- Armament: 4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2x2), 8 × 8 in (203 mm) (4x2), 12 × 6 in (152 mm) guns (12x1), 24 1-pounders (24x1), 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: Belt 11 inches; Turret 12 inches; Deck 3 inches
- Speed: 19 knots
- Ships in class: 5: USS Virginia, USS Nebraska, USS Georgia, USS New Jersey, and USS Rhode Island
- Commissioned: 19 February 1906 (Rhode Island)
- Decommissioned: 13 August 1920 (Virginia)
- Fate: Virginia and New Jersey sunk as targets, remainder sold for scrap, 1923
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Virginia (BB-13) |
4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2x2) | 15,000 tons | 21 May 1902 | 5 April 1904 | 7 May 1906 | Sunk as target | ||
USS Nebraska (BB-14) |
4 July 1902 | 7 October 1904 | 1 July 1907 | Sold for scrap, 1923 | ||||
USS Georgia (BB-15) |
31 August 1901 | 11 October 1904 | 24 September 1906 | Sold for scrap, 1923 | ||||
USS New Jersey (BB-16) |
3 May 1902 | 10 November 1904 | 12 May 1906 | Sunk as target | ||||
USS Rhode Island (BB-17) |
1 May 1902 | 17 May 1904 | 19 February 1906 | Sold for scrap, 1923 |
Connecticut class
- Displacement: 16,000 tons
- Armament: 4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2x2), 8 × 8 in (203 mm) (4x2), 12 × 7 in (178 mm) (12x1), 10 × 3 in (76 mm) (10x1), 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 11in Belt / 3in Deck
- Speed: 18 knots
- Ships in class: 6: USS Connecticut, USS Louisiana, USS Vermont, USS Kansas, USS Minnesota, and USS New Hampshire
- Commissioned: 2 June 1906 (Louisiana)
- Decommissioned: 1 March 1923 (Connecticut)
- Fate: Scrapped 1923–24
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Connecticut (BB-18) |
4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2x2) | 16,000 tons | 10 March 1903 | 29 September 1904 | 29 September 1906 | Scrapped 1923–24 | ||
USS Louisiana (BB-19) |
7 February 1903 | 27 August 1904 | 2 June 1906 | Scrapped 1923–24 | ||||
USS Vermont (BB-20) |
21 May 1904 | 31 August 1905 | 4 March 1907 | Scrapped 1923–24 | ||||
USS Kansas (BB-21) |
10 February 1904 | 12 August 1905 | 18 April 1907 | Scrapped 1923–24 | ||||
USS Minnesota (BB-22) |
27 October 1903 | 8 April 1905 | 9 March 1907 | Scrapped 1923–24 | ||||
USS New Hampshire (BB-25) |
1 May 1905 | 30 June 1906 | 19 March 1908 | Scrapped 1923–24 |
Mississippi class
- Displacement: 13,000 tons
- Armament: 4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2 × 2), 8 × 8 in (203 mm) (4 × 2), 8 × 7 in (178 mm) (8x1), 12 × 3 in (76 mm) (12 × 1), 6 × 1-pounder Mark 6(2 × 1), 6 × .30-caliber machine guns (6 × 1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor:
- Speed: 17 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Mississippi and USS Idaho
- Commissioned: 1 February 1908 (Mississippi)
- Fate: Decommissioned 30 July 1914 and sold to Greece. Kilkis (ex-Mississippi) and Limnos (ex-Idaho) sunk by German bombers in April 1941.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Mississippi (BB-23) |
4 × 12 in (305 mm) (2 × 2) | 13,000 tons | 12 May 1904 | 30 September 1905 | 1 February 1908 | Sold to Greece 1914; sunk by German aircraft in April 1941; sold for scrap in the 1950s | ||
USS Idaho (BB-24) |
12 May 1904 | 9 December 1905 | 1 April 1908 | Sold to Greece 1914; sunk by German aircraft in April 1941; sold for scrap in the 1950s |
Dreadnought battleships
South Carolina class
- Displacement: 16,000 tons
- Armament: 8 × 12 in (305 mm) guns (4 × 2), 22 × 3 in (76 mm) (22x1), 2 × 3 pounder (2 × 1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 12” belt, 2.5" deck
- Speed: 18 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS South Carolina and USS Michigan
- Commissioned: 4 January 1910 (Michigan)
- Decommissioned: 11 February 1922 (Michigan)
- Fate: Scrapped 1924
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS South Carolina (BB-26) |
8 × 12 in (305 mm) (4 × 2) | 16,000 tons | 18 December 1906 | 11 July 1908 | 1 March 1910 | Broken up as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty, 1924 | ||
USS Michigan (BB-27) |
17 December 1906 | 26 May 1908 | 4 January 1910 |
Delaware class
- Displacement: 20,380 tons
- Armament: 10 × 12 in (305 mm) (5x2), 14 × 5 in (127 mm) (14x1), 22 × 3 in (76 mm) (22x1), 2 × 3 pounder (2x1) guns, 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor:
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Delaware and USS North Dakota
- Commissioned: 4 April 1910 (Delaware)
- Decommissioned: 22 November 1923 (North Dakota)
- Fate: Delaware scrapped 1924; North Dakota converted to target ship 1924, scrapped 1931
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Delaware (BB-28) |
10 × 12 in (305 mm) (5 × 2) | 9–11 in (229 – 279 mm) | 20,380 tons | 2 × sets Vertical triple expansion Delaware Curtis Steam turbines North Dakota 2 × screws |
11 November 1907 | 6 February 1909 | 4 April 1910 | 10 November 1923 | Broken up at Baltimore, 1924 |
USS North Dakota (BB-29) |
16 December 1907 | 10 November 1908 | 11 April 1910 | 22 November 1923 | Broken up at Baltimore, 1931 |
Florida class
- Displacement: 21,800 tons
- Armament: 10 × 12 in (305 mm) (5x2), 16 × 5 in (127 mm) (16x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor:
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Florida and USS Utah
- Commissioned: 31 August 1911 (Utah)
- Decommissioned: 16 February 1931 (Florida)
- Fate: Florida scrapped in 1932, Utah became target ship (AG-16) in 1931, sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Florida (BB-30) |
10 × 12 in (305 mm) (5x2) | 9–11 in (229–279 mm) | 21,800 tons | 4 × Parsons steam turbine 4 × screws |
8 March 1909 | 12 May 1910 | 15 September 1911 | 16 February 1931 | Broken up at Philadelphia, 1931 |
USS Utah (BB-31) |
9 March 1909 | 23 December 1909 | 31 August 1911 | 5 September 1944 | Sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 |
Wyoming class
- Displacement: 26,000 tons
- Armament: 12 × 12 in (305 mm) (6x2), 21 × 5 in (127 mm) (21x1), two 3-inch (3x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 11in Belt / 2in Deck
- Speed: 20.5 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Wyoming and USS Arkansas
- Commissioned: 17 September 1912 (Arkansas)
- Decommissioned: 1 August 1947 (Wyoming)
- Fate: Wyoming became a training ship (AG-17) in 1931, scrapped in 1947. Arkansas sunk at Operation Crossroads in 1946
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Wyoming (BB-32) |
12 × 12 in (305 mm) (6x2) | 5–11 in (127–279 mm) | 26,000 tons | 4 × Parsons steam turbines 4 × screws |
9 February 1910 | 25 May 1911 | 25 September 1912 | 1 August 1947 | Struck 16 December 1947; Sold for scrap, 30 October 1947 |
USS Arkansas (BB-33) |
25 January 1910 | 14 January 1911 | 17 September 1912 | 29 July 1946 | Struck 15 August 1946; Sunk on 25 July 1946, as part of Operation Crossroads |
New York class
- Displacement: 27,200 tons
- Armament: 10 × 14 in (356 mm) (5x2), 21 5-inch (21x1), two 3-inch (2x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 12in Belt
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS New York and USS Texas
- Commissioned: 12 March 1914 (Texas)
- Decommissioned: 21 April 1948 (Texas)
- Fate: New York sunk as target 1948; Texas preserved as a memorial 1948
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS New York (BB-34) |
10 × 14 in (356 mm) (5x2) | 10–12 in (254–305 mm) | 27,200 tons | 2 × triple-expansion steam engines
|
11 September 1911 | 30 October 1912 | 15 May 1914 | 29 August 1946 | Struck 13 July 1948; Sunk as target, 8 July 1948 |
USS Texas (BB-35) |
17 April 1911 | 18 May 1912 | 12 March 1914 | 21 April 1948 | Struck 30 April 1948; Museum ship under restoration in Galveston, Texas |
Standard-type battleships
The so-called "Standard-type" was a series of battleships ordered between 1911 and 1916, and incorporating a number of new features including "all or nothing" armor. Twelve of these battleships were constructed across five classes, and were commissioned between 1916 and 1923. The older ships underwent major reconstructions during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Nevada class
- Displacement: 27,500 tons
- Armament: 10 × 14 in (356 mm) (2x3, 2x2), 21 × 5 in (127 mm) (21x1), 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor:13.5in Belt / 2.9in Deck
- Speed: 20 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Nevada and USS Oklahoma
- Commissioned: 11 March 1916 (Nevada)
- Decommissioned: 29 August 1946 (Nevada)
- Fate: Nevada sunk as target 1948; Oklahoma sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941, raised and stripped of salvageable parts, sunk en route to scrapping 1947
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Nevada (BB-36) |
10 × 14 in (356 mm) (2x3, 2x2) | 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) | 27,500 tons | 2 × screw propellers with geared cruising turbines
2 × steam turbines |
4 November 1912 | 11 July 1914 | 11 March 1916 | Struck 12 August 1948; Sunk as a target 31 July 1948 |
USS Oklahoma (BB-37) |
2 × triple-expansion steam engines
|
26 October 1912 | 23 March 1914 | 2 May 1916 | Struck 1 September 1944; Hulk sank while under tow, 17 May 1947 |
Pennsylvania class
- Displacement: 31,400 tons
- Armament: 12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3), 22 × 5 in (127 mm) (22x1), 4 × 3 in (76 mm) (4x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 13.5in Belt / 3in Deck
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Pennsylvania and USS Arizona
- Commissioned: both in 1916
- Fate: Pennsylvania sunk after Operation Crossroads in 1946, Arizona destroyed at Pearl Harbor in 1941, designated as a memorial.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) |
12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3) | 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) | 31,400 tons | 4 × screws 4 × sets of Curtis (Pennsylvania) or Parsons (Arizona) steam turbines with geared cruising turbines |
27 October 1913 | 16 March 1915 | 12 June 1916 | 29 August 1946 | Target ship, Operation Crossroads; scuttled 10 February 1948 |
USS Arizona (BB-39) |
16 March 1914 | 19 June 1915 | 17 October 1916 | 29 December 1941 | Sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 |
New Mexico class
- Displacement: 32,000 tons
- Armament: 12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3), 14 × 5 in (127 mm) (14x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 13.5in Belt / 3.5in Deck
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 3: USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi, and USS Idaho
- Commissioned: 18 December 1917 (Mississippi)
- Decommissioned: 17 September 1956 (Mississippi)
- Fate: New Mexico & Idaho scrapped 1947; Mississippi converted to trials ship (AG-128) 1946, scrapped 1956
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS New Mexico (BB-40) |
12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3) | 13.5 in Belt / 3.5 in Deck | 32,000 | 4 × screw propellers
|
14 October 1915 | 13 April 1917 | 20 May 1918 | 19 July 1946 | Struck 25 February 1947; Broken up at Newark, 1947 |
USS Mississippi (BB-41) |
5 April 1915 | 25 January 1917 | 18 December 1917 | 17 September 1956 | Struck 17 September 1956; Broken up at Baltimore, 1956 | ||||
USS Idaho (BB-42) |
20 January 1915 | 30 June 1917 | 24 March 1919 | 3 July 1946 | Broken up at Newark, 1947 |
Tennessee class
- Displacement: 32,300 tons
- Armament: 12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3), 14 × 5 in (127 mm) (14x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 13.5in Belt / 3.5in Deck
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS Tennessee, and USS California
- Commissioned: 3 June 1920 (Tennessee)
- Decommissioned: 14 February 1947 (both)
- Fate: sold for scrap 1959
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Tennessee (BB-43) |
12 × 14 in (356 mm) (4x3) | 13.5 in Belt / 3.5 in Deck | 32,300 tons | 2 × screw propellers
|
14 May 1917 | 30 April 1919 | 3 June 1920 | 14 February 1947 | Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap 10 July 1959 |
USS California (BB-44) |
25 October 1916 | 20 November 1919 | 10 August 1921 | 14 February 1947 | Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap 10 July 1959 |
Colorado class
- Displacement: 32,600 tons
- Armament: 8 × 16 in (406 mm) (4x2), 12 × 5 in (127 mm) (12x1), 8 × 3 in (76 mm) (8x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor:13.5in Belt / 3.5in Deck
- Speed: 21 knots
- Ships in class: 4: USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Washington, and USS West Virginia
- Commissioned: Maryland in 1921, Colorado and West Virginia in 1923, Washington not completed and sunk as target
- Fate: Remaining three decommissioned 1947 and sold for scrap 1959.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Colorado (BB-45) |
8 × 16 in (406 mm) (4x2) | 13.5in Belt / 3.5in Deck | 32,600 tons | 4 × turbo-electric transmission
|
29 May 1919 | 22 March 1921 | 30 August 1923 | 7 January 1947 | Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 23 July 1959 |
USS Maryland (BB-46) |
24 April 1917 | 20 March 1920 | 21 July 1921 | 3 April 1947 | Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 8 July 1959 | ||||
USS Washington (BB-47) |
30 June 1919 | 1 September 1921 | — | Cancelled after signing of Washington Naval Treaty; Sunk as target, 25 November 1924 | |||||
USS West Virginia (BB-48) |
12 April 1920 | 17 November 1921 | 1 December 1923 | 9 January 1947 | Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 24 August 1959 |
South Dakota class (1920)
- Displacement: 43,200 tons
- Armament: 12 × 16 in (406 mm) (4x3), 16 × 6 in (152 mm) (16x1), 8 × 3 in (76 mm) (8x1), 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Armor: 13.5in Belt / 4.75in Deck
- Speed: 23 knots
- Ships in class: 6: USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, USS Montana, USS North Carolina, USS Iowa, and USS Massachusetts
- Fate: Because of the Washington Naval Treaty, all were cancelled and scrapped on their slips prior to launch in 1923.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Suspended | Canceled | % Completed | Fate | |||||
USS South Dakota (BB-49)[48] |
12 × 16 in (406 mm) (4x3) | 13.5in Belt / 4.75in Deck | 43,200 tons | 4 × propeller shafts 4 × turbo-electric generators |
15 March 1920 | 8 February 1922 | 17 August 1922 | 38.5% | Sold for scrap, 25 October 1923 |
USS Indiana (BB-50)[49] |
1 November 1920 | 34.7% | Scrapped on slipway | ||||||
USS Montana (BB-51)[50] |
1 September 1920 | 27.6% | Sold for scrap, 25 October 1923 | ||||||
USS North Carolina (BB-52)[51] |
12 January 1920 | 36.7% | |||||||
USS Iowa (BB-53)[52] |
17 May 1920 | 31.8% | Sold for scrap, 8 November 1923 | ||||||
USS Massachusetts (BB-54)[53] |
4 April 1921 | 11.0% |
Fast battleships
The term "fast battleship" was applied to new designs in the early 1910s incorporating propulsion technology that allowed for higher speeds without sacrificing armour protection. The US Navy began introducing fast battleships into service following the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936, with a total of ten across three classes entering service.
North Carolina class
- Displacement: 35,000 tons
- Armament: 9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3x3), 20 × 5 in (127 mm) (10x2), 16 × 1.1 inch AA (4x4)
- Armor: 12in Belt / 7in Deck
- Speed: 28 knots
- Ships in class: 2: USS North Carolina and USS Washington
- Commissioned: 1941
- Fate: North Carolina preserved as memorial 1965; Washington scrapped 1962
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS North Carolina (BB-55) |
9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3x3) | 12in Belt / 7in Deck | 35,000 tons | 4 × geared turbines
4 × screws |
27 October 1937 | 13 June 1940 | 9 April 1941 | 27 June 1947 | Struck 1 June 1960; Museum ship since 29 April 1962 Wilmington, North Carolina |
USS Washington (BB-56) |
14 June 1938 | 1 June 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 27 June 1947 | Struck 1 June 1960; Sold for scrap, 24 May 1961 |
South Dakota class (1939)
- Displacement: 38,000 tons
- Armament: 9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3×3), 20 (16 on South Dakota) × 5 inch (10 or 8 × 2), up to 68 × 40 mm AA (17 × 4), up to 76 × 20 mm AA (76x1), 3 aircraft
- Armor: 12.2in Belt / 7.5in Deck
- Speed: 27 knots
- Ships in class: 4: USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Alabama
- Commissioned: 1942
- Fate: South Dakota and Indiana scrapped 1962 and 1963 respectively; Alabama preserved as memorial 1964; Massachusetts preserved as memorial 1965
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS South Dakota (BB-57) |
9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3×3) | 12.2in Belt / 7.5in Deck | 38,000 tons | 4 × screws 4 × geared steam turbines |
5 July 1939 | 7 June 1941 | 20 March 1942 | 31 January 1947 | Struck 1 June 1962; Sold for scrap, 25 October 1962 |
USS Indiana (BB-58) |
20 September 1939 | 21 November 1941 | 30 April 1942 | 11 September 1947 | Struck 1 June 1962; Sold for scrap, 23 October 1963 | ||||
USS Massachusetts (BB-59) |
20 July 1939 | 23 September 1941 | 12 May 1942 | 27 March 1947 | Struck 1 June 1962; Museum ship at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, since 14 August 1965 | ||||
USS Alabama (BB-60) |
1 February 1940 | 16 February 1942 | 16 August 1942 | 9 January 1947 | Struck 1 June 1962; Museum ship at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama, since 11 June 1964 |
Iowa class
- Displacement: 48,500 tons
- Armament: 9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3x3), 20 × 5 in (127 mm) (10x2), 80 × 40 mm AA (20x4), 49 × 20 mm AA (49x1) (1980s modification added 32 × Tomahawk and 16 × Harpoon missiles and 4 × Phalanx CIWS, and deleted 8 5-in guns and all other light anti-aircraft gun systems)
- Armor: 12in Belt / 7.5in Deck
- Speed: 33 knots
- Ships in class: 6: USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, USS Wisconsin, USS Illinois, and USS Kentucky
- Commissioned: Four commissioned; first, Iowa 1943; last, Missouri 1944.
- Fate: Iowa preserved as memorial in Memorial Stadium (Champaign), home of the Illinois Fighting Illini footballteam, traditionally rung when the Illini score a touchdown); Kentucky launched 1950, not completed, scrapped 1958.
Ship | Main guns | Armor | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | |||||
USS Iowa (BB-61) |
9 × 16 in (406 mm) (3x3) | 12in Belt / 7.5in Deck | 48,500 tons | 4 × screws 4 × geared steam turbines |
27 June 1940 | 27 August 1942 | 22 February 1943 | 24 March 1949 | Preserved as museum ship in Los Angeles, California |
25 August 1951 | 24 February 1958 | ||||||||
28 April 1984 | 26 October 1990 | ||||||||
USS New Jersey (BB-62) |
16 September 1940 | 7 December 1942 | 23 May 1943 | 30 June 1948 | Preserved as museum ship in Camden, New Jersey | ||||
21 November 1950 | 21 August 1957 | ||||||||
6 April 1968 | 17 December 1969 | ||||||||
28 December 1982 | 8 February 1991 | ||||||||
USS Missouri (BB-63) |
6 January 1941 | 29 January 1944 | 11 June 1944 | 26 February 1955 | Preserved as museum ship in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | ||||
10 May 1986 | 1 March 1992 | ||||||||
USS Wisconsin (BB-64) |
25 January 1941 | 7 December 1943 | 16 April 1944 | 1 July 1948 | Preserved as museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia | ||||
3 March 1951 | 8 March 1958 | ||||||||
22 October 1988 | 30 September 1991 | ||||||||
USS Illinois (BB-65) |
6 December 1942 | — | Cancelled 11 August 1945 Broken up at Philadelphia, 1958 | ||||||
USS Kentucky (BB-66) (BBG-1) |
7 March 1942 | 20 January 1950 | — | Broken up at Baltimore, 1959 |
Montana class
- Displacement: 65,000 tons
- Armament: 12 × 16 in (406 mm) (4x3), 20 × 5 in (127 mm) (10x2), undesignated number of 40 mm and 20 mm
- Armor: 16in Belt / 8.2in Deck
- Speed: 28 knots
- Ships in class: 5: USS Montana, USS Ohio, USS Maine, USS New Hampshire, and USS Louisiana
- Fate: All cancelled in 1943 before being laid down
See also
- List of battleships
- List of United States Navy ships
- List of United States Navy losses in World War II § Battleships (BB) - abbreviated list
- List of US Navy ships sunk or damaged in action during World War II § Battleships (BB) - detailed list
- Timeline of battleships of the United States Navy
- USS Recruit (1917)
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ USS Maine is not listed here because she was built as an armored cruiser but later reclassified as a second-rate battleship.
Citations
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 21, 35.
- ^ Miller (1997), p. 149.
- ^ Sweetman (2002), p. 87.
- ^ Friedman (1985), pp. 17, 20.
- ^ "Navy Act of June 30, 1890" (PDF). Library of Congress. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ Miller (1997), pp. 144, 153, 157.
- ^ Silverstone (1970), p. 29.
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 210; (Cites this article from a 1986 edition of Scientific American.
- ^ Miller (1997), pp. 144, 155.
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), pp. 21, 33, 35, 37, 39, 48.
- ^ a b c d e f g DANFS: Texas (1892).
- ^ Allen (1993), pp. 238–39.
- ^ The New York Times, 21 October 1896.
- ^ Allen (1993), p. 239.
- ^ Allen (1993), pp. 239, 241.
- ^ a b Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 35.
- ^ Allen (1993), p. 244.
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 19.
- ^ Allen (1993), pp. 247–48.
- ^ Allen (1993), pp. 250, 256.
- ^ a b c Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 48.
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 37.
- ^ Friedman (1985), p. 26.
- ^ Chesneau, Koleśnik & Campbell (1979), p. 140.
- ^ Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 58.
- ^ a b DANFS: Indiana (BB-1).
- ^ The New York Times, 27 February 1893.
- ^ The New York Times, 19 November 1895.
- ^ a b Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 69.
- ^ The New York Times, 10 June 1893.
- ^ a b DANFS: Massachusetts (BB-2).
- ^ The New York Times, 26 October 1893.
- ^ a b DANFS: Oregon (BB-3).
- ^ City of Art: USS Iowa (BB-4).
- ^ The Patriot Files: USS Iowa (BB-4.
- ^ a b c DANFS: Iowa (BB-4).
- ^ Friedman (1985), p. 30.
- ^ a b c Chesneau, Koleśnik & Campbell (1979), p. 141.
- ^ a b Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 94.
- ^ a b Houston Daily Post, 25 March 1898.
- ^ The Times, 20 February 1900.
- ^ Albertson (2007), p. 177.
- ^ Alexandria Gazette, 15 May 1900.
- ^ DANFS: Kentucky (BB-6).
- ^ Evans, Mark L. (14 September 2015). "South Dakota (Battleship No. 49)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ Cressman, Robert J.; Evans, Mark L. (12 September 2016). "Indiana I (Battleship No.1)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ Cressman, Robert J. (18 February 2016). "Montana (Battleship No. 51)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ "North Carolina II (Armored Cruiser No. 12)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ Evans, Mark L. (20 April 2016). "Iowa II (Battleship No. 4) 1897–1923". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ "Massachusetts IV". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
References
- Albertson, Mark (2007). They'll Have to Follow You!: The Triumph of the Great White Fleet. ISBN 978-1-60462-145-7.
- Chesneau, Roger; Koleśnik, Eugène M.; Campbell, N.J.M. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
- Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships, An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-715-9.
- Miller, Nathan (1997). The U.S. Navy: A History (3rd ed.). Naval Institute Press. OCLC 37211290.
- Reilly, John C.; Scheina, Robert L. (1980). American Battleships 1896–1923: Predreadnought Design and Construction. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-524-7.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (20 May 1970). U.S. Warships of World War I. Doubleday. ISBN 0-7110-0095-6.
- Sweetman, Jack (2002). American Naval History: An Illustrated Chronology of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-present. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-867-4.
- "Texas". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- "Indiana (BB-1)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- "Massachusetts (BB-2)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- "Oregon (BB-3)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- "Iowa (BB-4)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- "Kearsarge". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- "Kentucky". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
Journals
- Allen, Francis J. (1993). ""Old Hoodoo": The Story of the U.S.S. Texas". ISSN 0043-0374.
- "The Speed Trial of the United States Battleship Massachusetts". Scientific American. 74. 9 May 1896.; cited in Reilly & Scheina (1980), p. 210
Publications
- "Kentucky is Launched" (PDF). Houston Daily Post. 25 March 1898. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- "The New Kearsarge" (PDF). The Times. Washington, D.C. 20 February 1900. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- "The Kentucky in Commission" (PDF). Alexandria Gazette. 15 May 1900. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- "The war steamer Indiana; to be launched from the Cramp yards today" (PDF). The New York Times. 27 February 1893. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- "New battle ship launched; the Massachusetts floated in the broad Delaware" (PDF). The New York Times. 10 June 1893. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- "The Oregon in her element" (PDF). The New York Times. 26 October 1893. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- "The Indiana is Accepted; Capt. Evans Placed in Command – The Boston Goes to China" (PDF). The New York Times. 19 November 1895. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- "The Accident to the Texas: Capt. Glass Held Wholly Irresponsible for the Trouble" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 October 1896. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
Online resources
- "United States of America 12"/35 (30.5 cm) Mark 1 and Mark 2". NavWeaps.com. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- "United States of America 13"/35 (33 cm) Mark 1 and Mark 2". NavWeaps.com. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- "USS IOWA (BB-4)". The Patriot Files. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- "USS Iowa (Battleship # 4), 1897–1923. Later renamed Coast Battleship # 4". Department of the Navy — Naval Historical Center. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- "U.S.S. Iowa (BB-4), 1898". City of Art. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
External links
Memorials
- USS Arizona (BB-39) - Pearl Harbor National Memorial, HI
- USS Utah (ex-BB-31) - Pearl Harbor National Memorial, HI
Museum ships
- USS Alabama (BB-60) - Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, AL
- USS Iowa (BB-61) – USS Iowa Museum, Los Angeles, CA
- USS Massachusetts (BB-59) - Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA
- USS Missouri (BB-63), Pearl Harbor, HI
- USS New Jersey (BB-62), Camden, NJ
- USS North Carolina (BB-55), Wilmington, NC
- USS Texas (BB-35) - Battleship Texas Foundation
- USS Wisconsin (BB-64) - Nauticus, Norfolk VA