South Dakota Class Battleship (BB-49 through BB-54)

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Six South Dakota (BB-49) class battleships were authorized in 1918-19 to be built to an enlarged Colorado (BB-45) class design. Five ships were laid down in 1920 and the sixth in 1921. All work was suspended on 8 February 1922, when they were between 11% and 38% completed, in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1920. Their construction was cancelled on 17 August 1922. All six remained on the building ways until October-November 1923, when they were sold for scrapping.

The six South Dakota class battleships were being constructed at five locations:

• South Dakota (BB-49). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the New York Navy Yard in March 1920. Construction cancelled when the ship was 38.5% completed and she was broken up on the building ways.
• Indiana (BB-50). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the New York Navy Yard in November 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship scrapped on the building ways.
• Montana (BB-51). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in September 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was broken up on the building ways.
• North Carolina (BB-52). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, in January 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was broken up on the building ways.
• Iowa (BB-53). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Newport News, Virginia, in May 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was scrapped on the building ways.
• Massachusetts (BB-54). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Quincy, Massachusetts, in April 1921. Construction cancelled when the ship was about 11% completed and she was broken up on the building ways.

South Dakota class design characteristics:

• Displacement: 43,200 tons
• Dimensions: 684' (length overall); 106' (maximum beam)
• Powerplant: 60,000 horsepower steam turbines with electric drive, producing a 23 knot maximum speed
• Armament (Main Battery): Twelve 16"/50 guns in four triple turrets
• Armament (Secondary Battery): Sixteen 6"/53 guns in single mountings (eight guns on each side of the ship)

http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/49.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/bb/bb49cl.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/bb-49.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_South_Dakota_(BB-49)
http://www.geocities.com/batdev/southdakotabb-49class.html

 

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Photographs of the official model for the USS South Dakota (BB-49) class.