The Montana-class battleships, authorized under the 1940 “Two Ocean Navy” building program, were often seen to represent the very apex of American battleship design for the Second World War. These behemoths, with an intended standard displacement of 60,500 tons, were nearly one-third larger than the preceding Iowa class. The Montanas were designed to carry twelve 16″/50 guns, three more than the Iowas, and boasted enhanced protection against underwater weapons and shellfire. They were the only new World War II-era U.S. battleships that would have been adequately armored against guns of the same power as their own.
Only with the completion of the Montana class – at a time when the U.S. was expected to have peace – could: The Navy have a total of seventeen new battleships, a considerable advantage over any other nation. These ships would have been the only American vessels to come close to equaling the massive Japanese Yamato. However, the urgent wartime need for more aircraft carriers, amphibious, and anti-submarine vessels led to the suspension of the Montanas in May 1942, before any of their keels had been laid. Five ships were planned for the Montana class. All were canceled by July 1943, as it was clear that no longer could battleships be considered the dominant element of sea power.
The five Montanas were to be named Montana (BB-67) Ohio (BB-68) (both authorised in September 1940) Maine (BB-69), New Hampshire (BB-70), and Louisiana (BB-71).
Characteristics of the Montana-class battleships were meant to include the following:
60,500 tons (standard), 70,965 tons at full load
921′ 3″ overall length, and 121′ 2″ maximum beam
172,000 horsepower quadruple-screw steam turbines driving the ship at a maximum speed of 28 knots
Main battery of twelve 16″/50 guns, in four triple turrets
Twenty-five 5″/54-caliber guns
Its enormous construction costs and immense logistical concerns brought on about justification for its problems. The strategic shift towards air power and aircraft containers, along with massive concerns over the logistic considerations with crew size, fuel, and maintenance, finally canceled it in 1943. While this super battleship might have been a great way to restore morale after Pearl Harbor, the nature of the surface naval game was already set, and reallocating resources to build and maintain such a colossal warship just wasn’t going to fly.
The Montana-class design was on the boards throughout WW2 but was never to be built. Their superior firepower and enhanced armor were intended to match or surpass Japan’s Yamato class. However, the shift to a strategic emphasis on air power and aircraft carriers, along with logistic concerns, canceled these plans. While building just one Montana-class battleship could have served as a morale boost and a strong message of American naval power, the strategic priorities of the time ultimately led to the program’s cancellation. The Navy was more focused on aircraft carriers and other more versatile vessels.