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Colorado    

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
BB45	Colorado	200	New York N Yd, Brooklyn	29.5.1919	22.3.1921	30.8.1923	stricken 3.1959
BB46	Maryland	210	Newport News	24.4.1917	20.3.1920	21.7.1921	stricken 3.1959
BB47	Washington	201	New York SB, Camden	30.6.1919	1.9.1921	---	cancelled 2.1922, sunk as target 26.11.1924
BB48	West Virginia	211	Newport News	12.4.1920	19.11.1921	1.12.1923	stricken 3.1959

Technical data

Data variant	as commissioned	1941-1944 modernization
Displacement standard, t	---	34000 - 37000
Displacement normal, t	32600
Displacement full, t	33590	39100 - 40396
Length, m	182.9 wl 190.2 oa	182.9 wl 190.2 oa
Breadth, m	29.7	BB45, 46: 32.9 BB48: 34.8
Draught, m	9.20	10.7 - 10.8 full load
No of shafts	4	4
Machinery	BB45, 46: 4 electric motors, 2 Westinghouse turbo-generators, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers BB47, 48: 4 electric motors, 2 General Electric turbo-generators, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers	BB45, 46: 4 electric motors, 2 Westinghouse turbo-generators, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers BB48: 4 electric motors, 2 General Electric turbo-generators, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Power, h. p.	28900	28900
Max speed, kts	21	20.5
Fuel, t	oil 1900 (4656 - 4794 max)	oil 4700
Endurance, nm(kts)	21100(10)	9700(18)
Armour, mm	belt: 343 - 203, deck: 89, splinter deck: 38, barbettes: 320, turrets: 457 face, 254 sides, 229 rear, 127 crown, CT: 406 sides, 203 roof	BB45, 46: belt: 343 - 203, upper deck: 37, deck: 89, splinter deck: 38, barbettes: 320, turrets: 457 face, 254 sides, 229 rear, 127 crown, CT: 406 sides, 203 roof BB48: belt: 343 - 203, deck: 165 - 140, splinter deck: 38, barbettes: 320, turrets: 457 face, 254 sides, 229 rear, 184 crown, CT: 127 sides
Armament	BB46: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 1, 14 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 8, 4 x 1 - 76/52 Mk 10, 2 - 533 TT (beam) BB45, 48: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 1, 12 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 8, 8 x 1 - 76/52 Mk 10, 2 - 533 TT (beam)	BB45: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 10 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 8.15, 8 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 10.11.13, 4 x 4 -28/75 Mk 1, 14 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 8 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 catapults, 3 seaplanes (SOC, OS2U) BB46: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 10 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 8.15, 8 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 10.11.13, 4 x 4 -28/75 Mk 1, 10 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 catapults, 3 seaplanes (SOC, OS2U) BB48: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 8 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 12, 10 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 50 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, 1 catapult, 3 seaplanes (SO3C, OS2U)
Electronic equipment	---	BB45: SC, 2x FC (Mk 3) radars BB46: FC (Mk 3) radar BB48: SC-2, SG, 2x Mk 8, 4x Mk 4 radars
Complement	1080	2375

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Ships of 1917 programme represented a repeat Tennessee design with twin 406mm/45 guns in place of the earlier triple 356mm/50; there was no other substantial change, although for many years there were unofficial claims of a considerable increase in belt armour. 406mm/45 guns were finally adopted instead of 356mm/50s only in August 1916.

One ship, the Washington, was cancelled under the Washington Treaty on 8 February 1922 and sunk as a target in 1924.

Ship protection

125m belt had 5.2m height and was 343mm thick at upper 3.2m part tapering to 203mm at lower edge. Belt was connected with end barbettes by 343mm bulkheads. There was 2.6m in height 203mm belt at 18.3m length aft from aft bulkhead, protecting steering gear, it was closed aft by 343mm bulkhead. Flat main armour deck was connected with upper edge of belt and was 89mm over citadel. One level lower there was flat 38mm splinter deck. This deck was 159mm thick with 159mm slopes aft from citadel, protecting steering gear and closed by 203mm bulkhead. TTs were protected by 127mm deck at level of lower edge of main belt. Main gun turrets had 457mm faces, 254mm sides, 229mm rears and 127mm crowns. Barbettes were 320mm over and 102-114mm under main deck. CT had 406mm sides and 203mm roof. Funnel uptakes were protected by 229mm armour. Underwater protection was 5.3m deep.

Ship protection after modernization, BB45, 46: 125m belt had 5.2m height and was 343mm thick at upper 3.2m part tapering to 203mm at lower edge. Belt was connected with end barbettes by 343mm bulkheads. There was 2.6m in height 203mm belt at 18.3m length aft from aft bulkhead, protecting steering gear, it was closed aft by 343mm bulkhead. Flat main armour deck was connected with upper edge of belt and was 89mm over citadel. One level lower there was flat 38mm splinter deck. This deck was 159mm thick with 159mm slopes aft from citadel, protecting steering gear and closed by 203mm bulkhead. Ex-TT rooms were protected by 127mm deck at level of lower edge of main belt. There was additional 38mm deck over turbines, laid one level upper from main deck. Main gun turrets had 457mm faces, 254mm sides, 229mm rears and 127mm crowns. Barbettes were 320mm over and 102-114mm under main deck. CT had 406mm sides and 203mm roof. Funnel uptakes were protected by 229mm armour. Underwater protection was 8.0m deep.

Ship protection after modernization, BB48: 125m belt had 5.2m height and was 343mm thick at upper 3.2m part tapering to 203mm at lower edge. Belt was connected with end barbettes by 343mm bulkheads. There was 2.6m in height 203mm belt at 18.3m length aft from aft bulkhead, protecting steering gear, it was closed aft by 343mm bulkhead. Flat main armour deck was connected with upper edge of belt and was 140mm over citadel, increasing up to 165mm over magazines. One level lower there was flat 38mm splinter deck. This deck was 159mm thick with 159mm slopes aft from citadel, protecting steering gear and closed by 203mm bulkhead. Ex-TT rooms were protected by 127mm deck at level of lower edge of main belt. Main gun turrets had 457mm faces, 254mm sides, 229mm rears and 184mm crowns. Barbettes were 320mm over and 102-114mm under main deck. CT had 127mm sides. Funnel uptakes were protected by 229mm armour. Underwater protection was 9.0m deep.

Modernizations

1922, Maryland: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 4 x 1 - 76/52 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 1 seaplane (MO, VE, UO)

1925 - 1926, Colorado, West Virginia: + 1 catapult, 1 seaplane (MO, UO, VE, OL)

late 1920s, all: + 1 catapult (2nd), 2 seaplanes

1928 - 1929, all: - 8 x 1 - 76/50; + 8 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 10.11, 8 x 1 - 12.7/90

7/1941, West Virginia: - 2 x 1 - 127/51; + 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20

(6/1941 - 1.1942, Puget Sound NYd) Colorado, (1941 - 12.1941, Puget Sound NYd) Maryland, (6/1942 - 9.1944, Puget Sound NYd) West Virginia: were modernized as follows:

2.1942, Maryland: + 16 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC radar

early 1942, Colorado, Maryland: - 1 catapult

11/1942, Colorado: + 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

2/1943, Maryland: + 2 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, 32 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

11/1943, Colorado: - 2 x 1 - 127/51, 4 x 4 - 28/75, 8 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 6 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 20 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

11/1943, Maryland: - 2 x 1 - 127/51, 6 x 4 - 28/75, 8 x 1 - 20/70, 10 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 6 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2

spring 1944, Colorado: - 2 x 2 - 40/56, 7 x 1 - 20/70, Mk 3 radar; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 8 radar

spring 1944, Maryland: - 2 x 2 - 40/56, 4 x 1 - 20/70, Mk 3 radar; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 8 radar

10/1944, Colorado: - Mk 8 radar; + 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 13 radar

summer 1945, Maryland: - 8 x 1 - 127/51, 8 x 1 - 127/25, 34 x 1 - 20/70, Mk 8 radar; + 8 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 19 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 13 radar

1945, West Virginia: - Mk 8 radar; + 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 4, 1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, Mk 13 radar

1/1946, BB45 Colorado: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 8 x 1 - 127/51 Mk 13, 8 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 19, 8 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 15, 8 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 39 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 3 seaplanes, SC, Mk 3, Mk 13 radars

1/1946, BB46 Maryland: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 8 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 28, 12 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 15, 19 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 3 seaplanes, SC, Mk 13 radars

1/1946, BB48 West Virginia: 4 x 2 - 406/45 Mk 5.8, 8 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 28, 10 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 1 x 4 - 20/70 Mk 15, 1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 58 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 3 seaplanes, SC-2, SG, Mk 8, 4x Mk 4, Mk 13 radars

Naval service

7.12.1941 during raid of Japanese carrier aircraft to Pearl Harbour Maryland was damaged by hits of two bombs and was under repair till February, 1942; 22.6.1944 she was damaged by Japanese air torpedo and repaired till August, 1944; 29.11.1944 she was again damaged by kamikaze and was under repair till March, 1945; she was one more time badly damaged by kamikaze 7.4.1945 and returned to service in August, 1945. 7.12.1941 during raid of Japanese carrier aircraft to Pearl HarbourWest Virginia  received hits of 6-7 torpedoes and 2 bombs and sunk. She was salvaged in May, 1942 and commissioned again after repair and modernization in July, 1944. Colorado was damaged 24.7.1944 by Japanese coastal battery (22 hits) and was under repair till October, 1944.