montana

NAME	BUILDER	LAID DOWN	LAUNCHED	COMPLETED
MONTANA	Philadelphia N YD	--------	---------	----------
OHIO	Philadelphia N YD	--------	---------	----------
MAINE	New York N YD	--------	---------	----------
NEW HAMPSHIRE	New York N YD	--------	---------	----------
LOUISIANA	Norfolk N YD	--------	---------	----------

Specifications
Displacement	60,500 tons Standard 70,500 tons Full load
Dimensions
Length	925 ft (281.9 m)
Beam	121ft (36.9 m)
Draught	36 ft 8 in Full load (11.2 m)
Machinery	4 shaft Turbines 8 Boilers giving 172,000 SHP
Speed	28 kts
Armour	Belt 16.1 in - 10.2 in (407 mm - 260 mm) on 1 in STS , Internal belt 7.2 in 1 in (182 mm -25 mm) Deck 6 in -7.35 in (152 mm - 187 mm) with 2.25 in weather deck and 0.62 in -0-75 in (16 mm - 19 mm) splinter deck, Bulkheads 15.3 in(389 mm) , Barbettes 18 in - 21.3 in (457 mm -541 mm) Turrets 22.5 in (527 mm) Face , 9.15 in (232 mm) roof ,10 in (254 mm ) sides, 12 in (305 mm) rear, CT 18 in (457 mm) with 7.2 in (184 mm) roof.
Armament	12 16 in (406 mm) /50 in four triple Turrets ,20 5 in (127 mm) /54 in ten twin turrets, 32 40 mm 8 quad mountings 20 20 mm 20 singles 3 Aircraft
Complement	2149.

Slow ships for their day the Montanas went back to the normal American practice and showed how radical the Iowas were. Protected against 16 in weapons and able to mount extra weapons in a hull that allowed this armour to be carried the design process was a long one which was extended by the 1940 decision to order two more Iowas instead of going for the new design. Five ships were authorized by the General Board under the Act of July 1940. They were suspended by presidential decree in April 1942 due to an apparent steel shortage the same reason was given for the cancellation of the new Panama Canal Locks which would have allowed these vessel to pass through. The general board was later to claim that this was due to proper distribution an priority assignments rather than actual shortage. but all five ships were cancelled on the 21st of august 1943. The legacy of design that the Montanas left was passed on to the Midway class Aircraft Carrier the new Capital Ship.