Why was the USS Montana ever built?

Completion of the Montana class, and the last two Iowa-class battleships, was intended to give the US Navy a considerable advantage over any other nation, or probable combination of nations, with a total of 17 new battleships by the late 1940s.

Why was the Montana Class battleship never built?

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 (BB-67), to be built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania.

What if the Montana class was built?

The Montanas would have been slower than the Iowas but much more heavily armed and armored. Nearly as large as a modern supercarrier the Montana-class, like all battleships, was made obsolete by the success of the aircraft carrier. …

What happened to USS Montana?

USS Montanan (1913), was a cargo ship during World War I and sunk by torpedo in August 1918. USS Montana (BB-51), was a South Dakota-class battleship laid down in 1920 but cancelled and scrapped in 1923.

How did the Montana sink?

The side-paddlewheel steamer Montana sank in December 1863 after running into shallow reefs off Bermuda’s northwest coast. The vessel went by three previous names – Nola, Gloria and Paramount – before finishing as the Montana. …

What was the largest battleship?

Yamato (大和) was the lead ship of her class of battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) shortly before World War II….Japanese battleship Yamato.

Why did the US Navy finally design the Montana class ships?

The ability to quickly send ships through the Panama Canal was an advantage that the US was unwilling to part with. The fact that the canal locks were going to be enlarged was likely a big reason why the US Navy finally designed the Montana class. While the Montana might have ignored the Panama Canal restrictions, they were bound by another.

Why were the Montana class battleships cancelled?

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: Louisiana (BB-71), to be built at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia.

What would have happened if the Montana class had been completed?

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.

What happened to the USS Montanas during WW2?

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.