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The five battleships of the Montana class, authorized under the 1940 "Two Ocean Navy" building program and funded in Fiscal Year 1941, were the last of their kind ordered by the U.S. Navy. With an intended standard displacement of 60,500 tons, they were nearly a third larger than the preceding Iowa class, four of which were the final battleships actually completed by the United States. The Montanas were intended to carry twelve 16"/50 guns, three more than the earlier class. Protection against underwater weapons and shellfire was also greatly enhanced. They would have been the only new World War II era U.S. battleships to be adequately armored against guns of the same power as their own. To achieve these advances, the Montana class was designed for a slower maximum speed than the very fast Iowas and had a beam too wide to pass through the existing Panama Canal locks.
Completion of the Montana class would have given the late 1940s U.S. Navy a total of seventeen new battleships, a considerable advantage over any other nation, or probable combination of nations. The Montanas also would have been the only American ships to come close to equalling the massive Japanese Yamato. However, World War II's urgent requirements for more aircraft carriers, amphibious and anti-submarine vessels resulted in suspension of the Montanas in May 1942, before any of their keels had been laid. In July 1943, when it was clear that the battleship was no longer the dominant element of sea power, their construction was cancelled.
The Montana class would have consisted of five ships, to be constructed at three Navy Yards:
Montana class design characteristics:
This page features all our images related to the Montana class battleship design.
For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 61246 Montana class (BB-67--71) battleship Artist's conception of this abortive class, whose construction was cancelled on 21 July 1943. This artwork depicts the ship fitted with a heavy battery of anti-aircraft guns, as would have been the case had she been completed. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 300 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 44529 Montana class (BB-67--71) battleship Model representing the preliminary design, circa 1940-41. Photographed circa 1943. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 93912 Montana class (BB-67--71) battleship Model photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. It represents the ship with details somewhat changed from the preliminary design seen in Photo # NH 44529. Copied from the Bureau of Ships monograph "United States Battleship Designs for World War II", dated 1 June 1946. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 350 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 93913 Montana class (BB-67--71) battleship Model photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. It represents the ship with details somewhat changed from the preliminary design seen in Photo # NH 44529. Note rough finish of this model. Copied from the Bureau of Ships monograph "United States Battleship Designs for World War II", dated 1 June 1946. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 73KB; 415 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 93914 Montana class (BB-67--71) battleship Model photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 26 November 1941. It represents the ship with details somewhat changed from the preliminary design seen in Photo # NH 44529. Note rough finish of this model. Copied from the Bureau of Ships monograph "United States Battleship Designs for World War II", dated 1 June 1946. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 410 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: USN 1144964 Montana class (BB-67--71) model Large official model of this abortive class of battleship, photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 7 October 1944. Construction of the five ships of the class had been cancelled in July 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 405 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1144964. |
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The following images represent preliminary design plans prepared in early 1940 as part of the Montana class design development process. At that time, it was intended that the first ship of this class would have hull number BB-65. None of these plans represent the design finally adopted for the Montana class.
The following image represents a preliminary design plan prepared in mid 1940, comparing the Montana class hull profile with that of the Iowa (BB-61) class.
For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 28 January 2000
Coding updated 26 March 2001