 Incomplete hull of USSWashington (1922) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Washington |
| Namesake | Washington |
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Laid down | 30 June 1919 |
| Launched | 1 September 1921 |
| Stricken | 8 February 1922 |
| Fate | Sunk as target, 25 November 1924 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Colorado class |
| Displacement | 32,600long tons (33,100 t) |
| Length | 624 ft (190 m) |
| Beam | 97 ft 6 in (29.72 m) |
| Draft | 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m) |
| Speed | 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement | 1,354 officers and men |
| Armament | |
| Armor |
|
USSWashington,hull numberBB-47, was aColorado-classbattleship and the second ship of theUnited States Navy named in honor ofthe 42nd state. Her keel was laid down on 30 June 1919, atCamden, New Jersey, by theNew York Shipbuilding Corporation. She waslaunched on 1 September 1921, sponsored by Miss Jean Summers, the daughter of CongressmanJohn W. Summers of Washington.
On 8 February 1922, two days after the signing of theWashington Naval Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments, all construction work ceased on the 75.9%-completed superdreadnought. She was sunk as a gunnery target on 26 November 1924, by the battleshipsNew York andTexas.[1][2]
In 1916, design work was completed on the next class of battleships to be built for theUnited States Navy beginning in 1917. These ships were nearly direct copies of the precedingTennessee class, with the exception of themain battery, which increased from twelve 14-inch (356 mm) guns to eight 16 in (406 mm) guns. TheColorado class proved to be the last class of battleships completed of thestandard type.[3]
Washington was 624 ft (190 m)long overall and she had abeam of 97 ft 6 in (29.72 m) and adraft of 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m). Shedisplaced 32,693long tons (33,218 t) as designed and up to 33,590 long tons (34,130 t) at full load. The ship was powered by fourGeneral Electricturbo-electric drives with steam provided by eight oil-firedBabcock & Wilcox boilers. The ship's propulsion system was rated at 28,900shaft horsepower (21,600 kW) for a top speed of 21knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). She had a normal cruising range of 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph), but additional fuel space could be used in wartime to increase her range to 21,100 nmi (39,100 km; 24,300 mi) at that speed. Her crew numbered 64 officers and 1,241 enlisted men.[4][5]
She was armed with a main battery of eight16 in /45 caliber Mark 1 guns in four twin-gun turrets on the centerline,[a] two forward and two aft insuperfiring pairs. Thesecondary battery consisted of twelve5-inch (127 mm)/51 caliber guns, mounted individually incasemates clustered in the superstructureamidships. She carried ananti-aircraft battery of eight3-inch (76 mm)/50 caliber guns in individual high-angle mounts. As was customary forcapital ships of the period, she had a 21 in (533 mm)torpedo tube mounted in her hull below thewaterline on eachbroadside.Washington's mainarmored belt was 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm) thick, while the main armored deck was up to 3.5 in (89 mm) thick. The main battery gun turrets had 18 in (457 mm) thick faces on 13 in (330 mm)barbettes. Herconning tower had 16 in (406 mm) thick sides.[4][5]
Withfiscal year 1917 appropriations, bids on the fourColorados were opened on 18 October 1916; thoughMaryland'skeel was laid on 24 April 1917. The other three battleships, includingWashington, were not laid down until 1919–1920. With the cancellation of the firstSouth Dakota class, theColorados were the last U.S. battleships to enter service for nearly two decades. They were also the final U.S. battleships to use twin gun turrets—theNorth Carolina and secondSouth Dakota classes used nine16-inch/45 caliber Mark 6 guns and theIowas used nine16-inch/50 caliber Mark 7 guns[4][6][7] in three triple turrets.Washington was laid down on 30 June 1919.[8][2]
On 8 February 1922, two days after the signing of theWashington Naval Treaty for the Limitation of all Naval Armaments, all construction work was stopped on the 75.9-percent-completed superdreadnought.[1] By that time, she had her underwater armored protection in place.[9][10]
The ship was towed out in November 1924, to be used as a gunnery target. On the first day of testing, the ship was hit by two 400-pound (180 kg)torpedoes and three 1-metric-ton (1.1-short-ton) near-missbombs causing minor damage and a list of three degrees. She then had 400 pounds ofTNT detonated on board, but remained afloat. Two days later, the ship was hit by fourteen 14-inch (356 mm) shells dropped from 4,000 feet (1,200 m), but only one penetrated. The ship was finally sunk byTexas andNew York with fourteen more 14-inch shells. After the test, it was decided that the existing deck armor on battleships was inadequate, and that future battleships should be fitted with triple bottoms, which was underwater armor with three layers.[8]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1924 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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