List of battleships of the United States Navy

This list of battleships of the United States Navy includes all ships with the hull classification symbol "BB". A number of these were started but never completed.

Four battleships of the US Navy were designated "second class battleships"; these ships were smaller and lighter than normal battleships, with an eye toward saving money; but the Navy Department preferred to save money by building a more limited number of the best battleships they could afford. Thus, the US Navy never matched or even closely rivaled the line of battle of the Royal Navy in sheer numbers, but tended to have more powerful ships which could take more damage. Maine was destroyed in Havana harbor in 1898; Mississippi and Idaho were sold to Greece to free up money for a new Dreadnought battleship. Texas soldiered on in the Navy until sunk in 1911 as a target.

(should add the five unnumbered battleships)


 * (s) indicates ship was second class battleship (relative to other US battleships of the era)
 * (n) indicates ship never entered service.

Ship list
Except for Kearsarge, named by an act of Congress, all American battleships have been named for states, and every state has had at least one battleship named for it except Alaska and Hawaii (which that these did not become states until 1959 after the end of battleship building, although the Very Heavy Cruisers USS Alaska (CB-1) and USS Hawaii (CB-3) were built during WWII). Two battleships have been authorized to be named for Montana, but both were cancelled before commissioning. The pre-dreadnoughts USS Zrinyi (formerly the Austrian SMS Zrinyi), USS Radetzky (formerly the Austrian SMS Radetzky), and USS Ostfriesland (formerly the German SMS Ostfriesland), taken as prizes of war after World War I, were commissioned in the US Navy, but were not assigned hull classification symbols.

No American battleship has ever been lost at sea, though some have been sunk in port and others sunk as targets.

Pre-Dreadnought types


USS Maine

 * Displacement: 6,682 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 10 in (250 mm) (2x2); 6 x 6 in (152 mm) (6x1); 7 x 6 pounders (3 kg) (7x1); 8 x 1 pounders (0.5 kg) (8x1); 4 x 14 in (350 mm) surface torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 17 knots
 * Ships in class: 1
 * Commissioned: 17 September 1895
 * Fate: Sunk 15 February 1898



USS Texas

 * Displacement: 6,682 tons
 * Armament: 2 x 12 inch (305 mm) (2x1); 6 x 6 inch (152 mm) (6x1); 12 x 6 pounders (2.7 kg) (12x1); 6 x 1 pounders (6x1); 4 then 2 (fore and aft tubes removed 1897) x 14 inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 18 knots
 * Ships in class: 1
 * Commissioned: 15 August 1895
 * Fate: Decommissioned 1 February 1911



Indiana class

 * Displacement: 10,288 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 13-inch (2x2), 8 x 8-inch (4x2), 4 x 6-inch (4x1), 20 x 6-pounders (20x1), 6 x 1-pounders (6x1), 4 Gattling guns (4x1), 6 x 18-inch surface torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 15 knots
 * Ships in class: 3:  USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Oregon
 * Commissioned: 20 November 1895
 * Fate: Decommissioned 17 July 1920; Indnana'[' and Massachusetts sunk as targets; Oregon'' preserved as memorial 1936, scrapped 1956



USS Iowa

 * Displacement: 11,346 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 12-inch (305mm) (2x2), 8 x 8-inch (4x2), 6 x 4-inch guns (6x1), 20 x 6-pounders (20x1), 4 x 1-pounders (4x1), 4 x 14-inch torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 17 knots
 * Ships in class: 1
 * Commissioned: 16 June 1897
 * Fate: Decommissioned 31 March 1919



Kearsarge class

 * Displacement: 11,540 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 13-inch (2x2), 4 x 8-inch (2x2), 14 x 6-inch (14x1), 20 x 6-pounders (20x1), 8 x 1-pounders (8x1), 4 x 30-caliber machineguns
 * Speed: 15 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Kearsarge and USS Kentucky
 * Commissioned: 20 February 1900
 * Fate: Decommissioned 29 May 1920



Illinois class

 * Displacement: 11,565 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 13 inch (330 mm) (2x2), 14 x 6 inch (152 mm) (14x1), 16 x 6 pounders (2.7 kg) (16x1), 6 x 1 pounders (454 g) (6x1), 4 torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 17 knots
 * Ships in class: 3:  USS Illinois, USS Alabama, and USS Wisconsin
 * Commissioned: 16 October 1900
 * Fate: Decommissioned 17 July 1920



Maine class

 * Displacement: 12,500 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 12-inch (305mm) (2x2), 16 x 6-inch (16x1), 6 x 3-inch (6x1), 8 x 3-pounders (8x1), 6 x 1-pounders (6x1), 3 x .30-caliber machine guns (3x1), 2 x 18-inch submerged torpedo tubes
 * Speed: 18 knots
 * Ships in class: 3:  USS Maine, USS Missouri, and USS Ohio
 * Commissioned: 29 December 1902
 * Fate: Decommissioned 31 May 1922



Virginia class

 * Displacement: 15,000 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 12-inch (305mm) (2x2), 8 x 8-inch (4x2), 12 x 6-inch guns (12x1), 24 1-pounders (24x1), 4 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor: Belt 11 inches; Turret 12 inches; Deck 3 inches
 * Speed: 19 knots
 * Ships in class: 5:  USS Virginia, USS Nebraska, USS Georgia, USS New Jersey, and USS Rhode Island
 * Commissioned: 19 February 1902
 * Fate: Decommissioned 13 August 1920



Connecticut class

 * Displacement: 16,000 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 12-inch (305mm) (2x2), 8 x 8-inch (4x2), 12 x 7-inch (12x1), 10 x 3 inch (10x1), 4 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 18 knots
 * Ships in class: 5:  USS Connecticut, USS Louisiana, USS Vermont, USS Kansas, and USS Minnesota
 * Commissioned: 1906
 * Fate: Decommissioned 1923



Mississippi class

 * Displacement: 13,000 tons
 * Armament: 4 x 12-inch (305mm) (2x2), 8 x 8-inch (4x2), 8 x 7-inch (8x1), 12 x 3 inch (12x1), 6 x 3 pounder (6x1), 2 x 1 pounder (2x1), 6 x .30-caliber machine guns (6x1), 2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 17 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Mississippi and USS Idaho
 * Commissioned: 1 February 1908
 * Fate: Decommissioned 30 July 1914 and sold to Greece



South Carolina class

 * Displacement: 16,000 tons
 * Armament: 8 x 12-inch (305mm) guns (4x2), 22 x 3 inch (22x1), 2 x 3 pounder (2x1), 2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 17 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS South Carolina and USS Michigan
 * Commissioned: both in 1910
 * Fate: Decommissioned 1921 and 1922, both sold for scrap



Delaware class

 * Displacement: 16,000 tons
 * Armament: 10 x 12 inch (305mm) (5x2), 14 x 5 inch (14x1), 22 x 3 inch (22x1), 2 x 3 pounder (2x1) guns, 2 x 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Delaware and USS North Dakota
 * Commissioned: both in 1910
 * Fate: both decommissioned 1923 and sold for scrap



Florida class

 * Displacement: 21,800 tons
 * Armament: 10 x 12 inch (305 mm) (5x2), 16 x 5 inch (127 mm) (16x1), 2 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Florida and USS Utah
 * Commissioned: both in 1911
 * Fate: Florida scrapped in 1932, Utah became target ship in 1931, sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941



Wyoming class

 * Displacement: 27,200 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 12-inch (305mm) (6x2), 21 x 5-inch (21x1), two 3-inch (3x1), two 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Wyoming and USS Arkansas
 * Commissioned: both in 1912
 * Fate: Wyoming decommissioned in 1947, Arkansas sunk at Operation Crossroads in 1946



New York class

 * Displacement: 27,200 tons
 * Armament: 10 x 14-inch (5x2), 21 5-inch (21x1), two 3-inch (2x1), two 21-inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS New York and USS Texas
 * Commissioned: both in 1914
 * Fate: New York sunk as target in 1948, Texas preserved as a memorial 1948



Nevada class

 * Displacement: 27,500 tons
 * Armament: 10 x 14 inch (2x3, 2x2), 21 x 5 inch (21x1), 4 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 20 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Nevada and USS Oklahoma
 * Commissioned: both in 1916
 * Fate: Nevada sunk as target 1948; Oklahoma sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941, raised and stripped of salvagable parts, sunk in route to scrapping 1947



Pennsylvania class

 * Displacement: 21,400 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 14 inch (4x3), 14 x 5 inch (14x1), 4 x 3 inch (4x1), 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Pennsylvania and USS Arizona
 * Commissioned: both in 1916
 * Fate: Pennsylvania sunk after Operation Crossroads in 1956, Arizona destroyed at Pearl Harbor in 1941



New Mexico class

 * Displacement: 32,000 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 14 inch (4x2), 14 x 5 inch (14x1), 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 3:  USS New Mexico, USS Mississippi, and USS Idaho
 * Commissioned: New Mexico in 1918, Mississippi in 1917 and Idaho in 1919
 * Fate: sold for scrap, New Mexico & Idaho in 1947, Mississippi in 1956



Tennessee class

 * Displacement: 32,000 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 14 inch (4x3), 14 x 5 inch (14x1), 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS Tennessee, and USS California
 * Commissioned: Tennessee in 1920, California in 1921
 * Fate: both decommissioned 1947, sold for scrap 1959



Colorado class

 * Displacement: 32,600 tons
 * Armament: 8 x 16 inch (4x2), 12 x 5 inch (12x1), 8 x 3 inch (8x1), 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 21 knots
 * Ships in class: 4:  USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Washington, and USS West Virginia
 * Commissioned: Maryland in 1921, Colorado and West Virginia in 1923, Washington not completed and sunk as target
 * Fate: all three decommissioned 1947 and sold for scrap.

South Dakota class

 * Displacement: 43,200 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 16 inch (4x3), 16 x 6 inch (16x1), 8 x 3 inch (8x1), 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 23 knots
 * Ships in class: 4:  USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, USS Montana, USS North Carolina, USS Iowa, and USS Massachusetts
 * Commissioned: None commissioned
 * Fate: All cancelled prior to launch in 1923; scrapped on slip

North Carolina class

 * Displacement: 35,000 tons
 * Armament: 9 x 16 inch (3x3), 20 x 5 inch (10x2), 16 x 28 mm AA (4x4)
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 28 knots
 * Ships in class: 2:  USS North Carolina and USS Washington
 * Commissioned: 1941
 * Fate: North Carolina preserved as memorial 1965; Washington scrapped 1962



South Dakota class

 * Displacement: 35,000 tons
 * Armament: 9 x 16 inch (3x3), 20 (16 on 'South Dakota) x 5 inch (10 or 8 x 2), up to 68 x 40 mm AA (17x4), up to 76 x 20 mm AA (76x1)
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 27 knots
 * Ships in class: 4:  USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Alabama
 * Commissioned: 1942
 * Fate: South Dakota and Indiana scrapped 1960; Massachusetts preserved as memorial 1965; Alabama preserved as memorial 1966



Iowa class

 * Displacement: 45,000 tons
 * Armament: 9 x 16 inch (3x3), 20 x 5 inch (10x2), 80 x 40 mm AA (20x4), 49 x 20 mm AA (49x1) (1983 modification added 32 x Tomahawk and 16 x Harpoon missiles and 4 x Phalanx CIWS)
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 33 knots
 * Ships in class: 6:  USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, USS Wisconsin, USS Illinois, and USS Kentucky
 * Commissioned: Four commissioned
 * Fate: Iowa in layup; Missouri preserved as memorial 1993 at Pearl Harbor; Wisconsin preserved as memorial Norfolk, Virginia; New Jersey preserved as memorial in Camden, NJ; Illinois cancelled and scrapped on slip; Kentucky launched 1950, not completed, scrapped 1958.



Montana class

 * Displacement: 65,000 tons
 * Armament: 12 x 16 inch (4x3), 20 x 5 inch (10x2), undesignated number of 40 mm and 20 mm
 * Armor:
 * Speed: 28 knots
 * Ships in class: 5:  USS Montana, USS Ohio, USS Maine, USS New Hampshire, and USS Louisiana
 * Commissioned: None commissioned
 * Fate: All cancelled in 1943 before being laid down

Projected battleships
Seven battleships BB 72 through BB 78 were projected in 1942. Armament was to consist of 8 x 18 in (4x2). The project did not proceed past the drawing stage; none were ordered.

External link

 * Maritimequest U.S. Battleships photo gallery