The Second World War witnessed the rise of several iconic battleships such as the Bismarck, HMS Hood (51), Yamato, Roma (1940) and USS Iowa (BB-61). However, it also marked the end of an era where these vessels dominated, as shown by the abandonment of many battleship plans during the conflict.
In World War I, battleships showcased their power in engagements like Dogger Bank and Jutland. Their importance prompted nations to start on the construction of more sophisticated capital ships for their fleets, as shown by the United States’ enactment of the Naval Act of 1916.
Dubbed the Big Navy Act, this legislation aimed to bolster the US Navy’s capabilities by sanctioning the production of 10 battleships, six battlecruisers, 10 scout cruisers, 50 destroyers, and 67 submarines. Although slated to commence in 1919 and conclude within four years, the proposed fleet never materialized.
Such is the story of the Navy’s cancelled battleship projects from the World War II era.
Washington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty was an agreement made to prevent excessive naval construction, which could turn into an arms race. Negotiated at the Washington Naval Conference between November 1921 and February 1922, it was signed by the United Kingdom, US, France, Italy and Japan.
The treaty specified the tonnage each nation could build up to, specifically for battleships and aircraft carriers. America’s total tonnage for the former was 525,000. As part of the agreement, no single battleship could exceed 35,000 tons, nor could they carry guns with a caliber over 16 inches.
Both ships yet to be constructed and those currently being built had to meet these standards. This saw vessels from all five nations scrapped or converted following the treaty’s adoption.
Lexington-class battlecruisers
The Naval Act of 1916 ushered in the Lexington-class, slated to be the sole battlecruiser in the US Navy’s fleet. Originally, six vessels were slated for construction, starting in 1921. However, adherence to treaty obligations led to the cancellation of the final four, still in their early stages, while the first two were repurposed into the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and Saratoga (CV-3).
Initially, the Lexington-class battlecruisers were designed with a complement of ten 14-inch and eighteen 5-inch guns, capable of achieving a top speed of 40 MPH. Later modifications reduced these weapons to eight 16-inch and sixteen 6-inch guns, with a slightly lower top speed of 38.26 MPH. These alterations aimed to strengthen firepower while incorporating more armor, albeit at the expense of speed.
Both Lexington and Saratoga served in World War II
Other armaments were to be eight 3-inch Mk 11 anti-aircraft guns and eight 21-inch torpedo tubes. The Lexington-class would also be powered by a turbo-electric propulsion system, first adopted by the USS New Mexico (BB-40).
Despite their almost-uncertain futures, Lexington and Saratoga both went on to serve during the Second World War. The former was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The latter survived, despite being torpedoed twice, and was used as a target during Operation Crossroads.
South Dakota-class battleships
The South Dakota-class battleships were designed to compete with their British and Japanese counterparts, which boasted speeds of up to 26.47 MPH. Authorized in 1917, the class was intended to feature six vessels.
Construction was initially postponed to incorporate improvements following the Battle of Jutland. It was further delayed as destroyers and other ships were seen as more of a priority in combatting German U-boats in the North Atlantic.
Unfinished South Dakota-class ships were scrapped
The South Dakota-class was to be armed with twelve 16-inch guns in four triple-gun turrets, sixteen 6-inch guns, four .50-caliber anti-aircraft guns and two 21-inch torpedo tubes. Propulsion, like the Lexington-class, would be via a turbo-electric system.
Construction finally started in 1920, but, two years later, with the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, was brought to a standstill. In 1923, the unfinished ships were scrapped, and their boilers and armor used to improve older vessels. Their guns were given to the US Army.
Montana-class battleships
The intended successor to the Iowa-class, the Montana-class was to be larger, better protected and more powerful than any battleship the US Navy had ever operated. The five-ship class was initially designed before the start of the Second World War. Construction was intended to begin during the conflict, but was canceled.
Montana-class battleships would have had twelve 16-inch Mk 7 guns as their main armament, housed in four three-gun turrets – two forward-facing and two rearward-facing. This would allow them to surpass the Imperial Japanese Navy’s (IJN) Yamato as the battleship with the most powerful broadside.
The class would have also carried twenty 5-inch guns in 10 turrets, as well as Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. The battleships were to be powered by eight boilers and four steam turbines.
The cancelation of the Montana-class was the beginning of the end
The Montana-class would be armored more than any other American battleship of the era. Despite the increase in size, this addition would have protected against vessels with similar-caliber guns, making them the only US ships with this ability.
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In May 1942, construction was ordered to begin on the Montana-class. Before anything started, however, the vessels were postponed, in favor of building more Essex-class aircraft carriers and Iowa-class battleships.
In July 1943, the Montana-class was officially canceled. The cancellation of these capital ships signaled the slow decline of the battleship. World War II was to be the final conflict where they played a definitive role. After the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, which displayed the importance of airpower and aircraft carriers, the final rivets were put in the battleship’s coffin.
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