[Gator101]

but construction was canceled due to the Montana's not fitting wartime needs.

Yep...after seeing big expensive battleships sunk by those pesky winged things at Taranto, Pearl Harbor, and off of Singapore I guess the world's admirals figured there wasn't much use in heavily investing in more targets.

The battleships still proved pretty useful in the AA and shore bombardment role however. Imagine the volume of AA fire one of them could put up. It was handy having them nearby when the kamikazes came hunting for carriers.

[APRPEH]

the strength of the battleship hull and the ability to re-fit to modern standards including missile batteries made the BB a Reagan era symbol. remember as "obsolete" as they were deemed, the New Jersey was pulled out of retirement 3 times. the last time during the Reagan administration and she put on quite a light and sound show off the shore of Lebanon.