South Dakota-class battleship (1920)
The first South Dakota class was a group of six battleships that were laid down in 1920 for the U.S. Navy, but were never completed; designed to achieve 23 knots, they represented an attempt to catch up with the increasing fleet speeds of its main rivals, the British Royal Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy.
Artist's concept of the South Dakota class
South Dakota under construction
Colorado-class battleship
The Colorado-class battleships were a group of four United States Navy super-dreadnoughts, the last of its pre-Treaty battleships. Designed during World War I, their construction overlapped the end of that conflict and continued in its immediate aftermath. Though all four keels were laid, only three ships entered service: Colorado, Maryland, and West Virginia. Washington was over 75% completed when she was canceled under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty in 1922. As such, the 16" gun Colorado-class ships were the last and most powerful battleships built by the U.S. Navy until the North Carolina class entered service on the eve of World War II.
Colorado steaming off New York City, c. 1932
Hull of Maryland under construction c. 1917
USS Maryland in March 1944
USS West Virginia in her final configuration, June 1944. Note 5 in/38 twin turrets and number of AA guns