The battleship that was built to be a repeat, not a revolution

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In an era of rapid naval evolution, the Colorado-class battleships were a deliberate exercise in restraint. While they boasted massive 16-inch guns, their hulls were essentially recycled designs from previous years. They represent a unique moment where industrial standardization met the desperate need for reliable firepower.

The development of the Colorado class was defined by a tension between technological ambition and fiscal caution. Although the U.S. Navy envisioned 16-inch guns as early as 1913, Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer initially blocked them to prevent making existing ships obsolete. Construction only began in October 1912 after successful test firings. Even then, the final design was a compromise; President Woodrow Wilson's administration pushed for cost-effective standardization over radical innovation.

Because of these constraints, the Colorado class were essentially 'up-gunned' versions of the preceding Tennessee class. They retained similar speeds, handling characteristics, and even the same turbo-electric transmission systems. This approach was part of a broader naval strategy to streamline production during World War I, treating ship construction almost like an assembly line. By sticking to one basic design per class, the Navy could rapidly produce over 450 submarine chasers and 250 destroyers.

Despite their conservative hulls, these ships were formidable combatants in World War II. The Maryland and West Virginia were present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, with the latter being sunk but later salvaged. They served as vital gunfire support during amphibious operations and participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October 1944, which marked the final surface action between battleships. By the late 1950s, these relics of pre-Treaty naval doctrine were finally scrapped.

A notable technical hurdle was underwater protection. Because tests on liquid-filled compartments (caissons) were still ongoing when construction began, designers had to allow for design alterations three months after a keel was laid. This highlights the constant race between industrial output and the scientific understanding of modern warfare.

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