The Maine was completed originally as an armored cruiser but this designation was changed to second class battleship in 1894. The Maine blew up in Havana, Cuba. [back]
O/A Length = 319 ft Beam = 57 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 7.2K, Design = 6.6K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x10", 1 forward, 1 aft |
The Texas was originally classed as a coastal battleship but was also redesignated a second class battleship in 1894. Both these ships were obsolete when completed. [back]
O/A Length = 309 ft Beam = 63.5 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 6.6K, Design = 6.1K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 1x1, 4x13", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Indiana Class - These ships were authorized in 1890, the first vessels in the USN, that could be called true battleships, but to quell Congressional fears of overseas warfare they were designated "Coast-Defense Battleships". Their were partly armored with the new Harvey steel. They were not however considered a success as they were deemed very cramped and their armor belt was almost submerged when they were fully loaded. They were all refitted with cage masts during their 1909-1911 modernization's. [back]
BB01 Indiana BB02 Massachusetts BB03 Oregon |
O/A Length = 350 ft Beam = 69 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 11.3K, Design = 10.2K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x13", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Iowa Class - The first "Seagoing Coastline Battleship" built for the U.S. Navy. The most notable changes over the Indiana class were a longer forecastle, longer hull smaller 12 inch main battery, more Harvey armor and a slightly heavier displacement. Iowa initially had a military type mast but this was changed in 1911 to cage masts. [back]
BB04 Iowa |
O/A Length = 362 ft Beam = 72.3 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 12.6K, Design = 11.4K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x12", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Kearsage Class - The name ship of this class was the only true battleship ever built without the name of one of the states. These ships were large and were built with better protection then the previous classes. The double turrets of 13 inch and 8 inch were trained in unison with the result of having severe blast interference problems. The military type masts were replaced by cage masts in 1909. [back]
BB05 Kearsarge BB06 Kentucky |
O/A Length = 375 ft Beam = 72.3 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 12.9K, Design = 11.5K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x13", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Illinois Class - This class eliminated the secondary battery of 8 inch guns, relying instead on a new rapid fire 6 inch and was the last class to carry the old 13 inch main guns. They looked somewhat odd with their funnels mounted side by side instead of the usual line-astern configuration. The military masts were replaced by cage masts 1909-1911. [back]
BB07 Illinois BB08 Alabama BB09 Wisconsin |
O/A Length = 375 ft Beam = 72.3 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 12.3K, Design = 11.5K
Speed = 17.4 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x13", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Maine Class - The first class of battleships to utilize submerged torpedo tubes and due to twenty feet of lengthened hull over previous classes, they were able to steam at 18 knots (Also a first). With the advent of the more powerful smokeless powder these ships could revert to the smaller caliber 12 inch main battery. The military masts were replaced by cage masts 1909-1911. [back]
BB10 Maine BB11 Missouri BB12 Ohio |
O/A Length = 393 ft Beam = 72.3 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 13.7K, Design = 12.8K
Speed = 18 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x12", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Virginia Class - Reverting again to the unsatisfactory stacking of main and secondary batteries made these ships obsolete before completion. They were however quite fast and moderately armored. They were seen to be quite "lively" in rough seas. the pole masts were replaced by cage masts in 1910 with fighting tops added in 1918. [back]
BB13 Virginia BB14 Nebraska BB15 Georgia
BB16 New Jersey BB17 Rhode Island |
O/A Length = 441 ft Beam = 76.3 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 16.2K, Design = 15K
Speed = 19 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x12", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Connecticut Class - Completed after the the revolutionary H.M.S. Dreadnought, these ships, while probably among the best pre-dreadnoughts built, but they were also obsolete before launch. With four 8 inch twin turrets mounted 2 port and 2 starboard, they did however have a very fine secondary battery. The New Hampshire had a slightly different armor scheme then the rest. The pole masts were replaced by cage masts in 1910 with control tops added 1917-1918. [back]
BB18 Connecticut BB19 Louisiana BB20 Vermont
BB21 Kansas BB22 Minnesota BB25 New Hampshire |
O/A Length = 456 ft Beam = 76 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 17.6K, Design = 16K
Speed = 18.8 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x12", 1 forward, 1 aft |
Mississippi Class - Very likely the biggest shipbuilding mistake ever made by the U.S. Navy. These ships were miniaturized Connecticut's and were grossly obsolete upon completion. Congress wanted smaller cheaper battleships and ended up with two ships that served only three years in active service and were sold to Greece to help pay for the a new dreadnought battleship. [back]
BB23 Mississippi BB24 Idaho |
O/A Length = 382 ft Beam = 77 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 14.2K, Design = 13K
Speed = 17 knots Armament = 2x2, 4x12", 1 forward, 1 aft |
South Carolina Class - The first "all big gun ships" built for the U.S. Navy. These ships were not as fast as the British Dreadnought entry but could fire the same amount of guns on a broadside. Basket masts were incorporated in the original construction for the first time. [back]
BB26 South Carolina BB27 Michigan |
O/A Length = 453 ft Beam = 80 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 17.7K, Design = 16K
Speed = 18.8 knots Armament = 4x2, 8x12", 2 forward, 2 aft |
Delaware Class - Only the second class of true post "Dreadnoughts" built by the U.S. Navy. These ships were in fact more capable then the British Dreadnought, but were commissioned almost four years later. The ships were constructed with cage masts, with range clocks. The deflection scales on the turrets were added in 1918. [back]
BB28 Delaware BB29 North Dakota |
O/A Length = 519 ft Beam = 85 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 22.3K, Design = 20K
Speed = 21 knots Armament = 5x2, 10x12", 2 forward, 3 aft |
Florida Class - These were to be the first American battleships designed to carry the new powerful 14 inch main battery. Supply problems caused this class and the succeeding Wyoming class to resort to the older 12". The primary difference in this classes cage masts was that the second mast was abaft the second funnel. Range clocks on the masts and deflection scales on the turrets were added in 1918. The Florida missed W.W.II but the Utah was present at Pearl Harbor in a diminished role as a gunnery target ship. She rolled over after numerous hits and rests there today as a memorial. [back]
BB30 Florida BB31 Utah |
O/A Length = 521 ft Beam = 88 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 23K, Design = 21.8K
Speed = 22 knots Armament = 5x2, 10x12", 2 forward, 3 aft |
Wyoming Class - This class was to receive the new 14 inch rifles but delays caused them to resort to the 12 inch as in the Florida class. The oldest battleships to serve in W.W.II with the U.S. Navy. The Wyoming was converted to a gunnery training and testing ship, but the Arkansas performed many convoy escorts and bombardments in the Atlantic. [back]
BB32 Wyoming BB33 Arkansas |
O/A Length = 562 ft Beam = 104 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 31K, Design = 26K
Speed = 21 knots Armament = 6x2, 12x12", 2 forward, 2 amidships, 2 aft |
New York Class - This class introduced the 14 inch rifle to USN battleships.This class of battleships saw extensive convoy duty in both world wars. While they were among the oldest battleships used by the USN in W.W.II, they were still quite powerful. They were transferred to the Pacific in the later stages of the war. [back]
BB34 New York BB35 Texas |
O/A Length = 573 ft Beam = 106 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 31K, Design = 28.7K
Speed = 20 knots Armament = 5x2, 10x14", 2 forward, 3 aft |
Nevada Class - The first of the "all or nothing" protection scheme, wherein most of the protection was situated around the main turrets, the machinery and the conning tower. Usually these were considered the most important parts of the ship. The Nevada served with distinction through W.W.II after putting on one of the many brave displays at Pearl Harbor. Being 31 years old and the oldest active battleship at Pearl, she was the only battleship to actually get underway during the attack. The Oklahoma was ripped apart early in the attack on the port side by torpedoes and capsized quite quickly. [back]
BB36 Nevada BB37 Oklahoma |
O/A Length = 583 ft Beam = 107 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 33.9K, Design = 30.5K
Speed = 19 knots Armament = 2x3, 2x2, 10x14", 2 forward, 2 aft |
Pennsylvania Class - The addition of two triple 14 inch turrets to replace the two twin of the previous Nevada class, made these ships all the more powerful. This concept was continued up to the Colorado class. Very fine warships and among the favorites of the fleet. The Pennsylvania escaped major damage at Pearl Harbor but the Arizona was basically destroyed by a magazine explosion. [back]
BB38 Pennsylvania BB39 Arizona |
O/A Length = 608 ft Beam = 106 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 39.2K, Design = 34.4K
Speed = 21 knots Armament = 4x3, 12x14", 2 forward, 2 aft |
New Mexico Class - Numerous improvements were utilized in this class over the preceding classes. The underwater protection was much better, and the armor scheme was somewhat different giving this class far greater protection. These were also the first ships with independent elevation for their rifles in the triple turrets. All previous classes had their main rifles in a single slide. The Idaho was added to the original purchase of two ships by the sale of the old Idaho and Mississippi to Greece. None of this class were at Pearl Harbor all being in the Atlantic at the time. [back]
BB40 New Mexico BB41 Mississippi BB42 Idaho |
O/A Length = 624 ft Beam = 106 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 40.1K, Design = 35K
Speed = 22 knots Armament = 4x3, 12x14", 2 forward, 2 aft |
Tennessee Class - A virtual repeat of the preceding New Mexico's except for a newer model of 14 inch 50 caliber gun. Both ships were at Pearl Harbor, but only the California received major damage. The Tennessee was one of the first ships to rejoin the fleet before later going to Puget Sound for a complete rebuild. [back]
BB43 Tennessee BB44 California |
O/A Length = 624 ft Beam = 114 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 41K, Design = 32.3K
Speed = 20 knots Armament = 4x3, 12x14", 2 forward, 2 aft |
Colorado Class - Identical in all respects to the preceding Tennessee class except for the substitution of eight 16 inch for twelve 14 inch. The Colorado was the only battleship in the Pacific Fleet that was not at Pearl Harbor on Dec.7/41. This was the last class of USN battleships completed with the cage masts. [back]
BB45 Colorado BB46 Maryland BB47 Washington BB48 West Virginia |
O/A Length = 624 ft Beam = 113 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 38.4K, Design = 32.5K
Speed = 21 knots Armament = 4x2, 8x16", 2 forward, 2 aft |
South Dakota Class - The last of the old standard style of battleships modeled after the Nevada class. These ships would have mounted the heaviest armament (12 x 16 inch) of any battleship built before 1939. They were all cancelled under the Washington Naval Treaty. [back]
BB49 South Dakota BB50 Indiana BB51 Montana
BB52 North Carolina BB53 Iowa BB54 Massachusetts |
O/A Length = 684 ft Beam = 105 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 43.2K, Design = 41.4K
Speed = 23 knots Armament = 4x3, 12x16", 2 forward, 2 aft |
North Carolina Class - The first new battleships built for the U.S. Navy since 1923. These ships were "treaty battleships" in that they did not exceed 35,000 tons. They were not as heavily armored as some other nations battleships, but their excellent weaponry made up for this shortcoming. [back]
BB55 North Carolina BB56 Washington |
O/A Length = 728 ft Beam = 108 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 46.7K, Design = 35K
Speed = 28 knots Armament = 3x3, 9x16", 2 forward, 1 aft |
South Dakota Class - Most likely the best "treaty battleships" built in the world. They had a decent speed, well positioned armor and excellent weaponry and fire control. [back]
BB57 South Dakota BB58 Indiana BB59 Massachusetts BB60 Alabama |
O/A Length = 680 ft Beam = 108 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 46K, Design = 35K
Speed = 27 knots Armament = 3x3, 9x16", 2 forward, 1 aft |
Iowa Class - The largest and most powerful battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Their 16 inch guns, advanced fire and damage control and their high speed made these ships a match for any ship built in the world. When reactivated in the 1980's they again formed the most powerful surface task group that sailed the seas. The fight is now on to get at least a few of these great ships back into action or at the very least, all four preserved as museums. [back]
BB61 Iowa BB62 New Jersey BB63 Missouri BB64 Wisconsin BB65 Illinois BB66 Kentucky |
O/A Length = 887 ft Beam = 108 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 59.3K, Design = 45K
Speed = 34 knots Armament = 3x3, 9x16", 2 forward, 1 aft |
Montana Class - The largest and most powerful class of battleships ever "almost" built for the U.S. Navy. These huge ships would have stood up to any battleship built in the world. [back]
BB67 Montana BB68 Ohio BB69 Maine BB70 New Hampshire BB71 Louisiana |
O/A Length = 925 ft Beam = 121 ft Displacement (tons): Max = 73.5K, Full = 71K, Design = 60.5K
Speed = 28 knots Armament = 4x3, 12x16", 2 forward, 2 aft |
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