Post-Montana battleships (BB-72 to BB-78)

[lordroel]

So i am reading that seven battleships BB 72 through BB 78 were projected in 1942 with a armament to consist of 8 x 18 in (4x2). The project did not proceed past the drawing stage; none were ordered.

So would these be bigger than the Montana if build.

[stevep]

Sept 29, 2024 8:23:23 GMT lordroel said:

So i am reading that seven battleships BB 72 through BB 78 were projected in 1942 with a armament to consist of 8 x 18 in (4x2). The project did not proceed past the drawing stage; none were ordered.

So would these be bigger than the Montana if build.

  Likely.  Partly because there would be increasing need for room for electronics and AA weaponry as well as probably a desire for better passive protection - i,e. armour.  Also simply a 4x2 layout means 4 turrets rather than 3 in a 3x3 such as the Montana's.  This means a longer length of hull to fit in those which would also require a longer armoured belt and deck as you don't want attacks hitting the magazines.  Also given a move from 3x16" turrets to 2x18" the width of the turrets would probably be little if any smaller.  Ditto 18" shells will be larger than 16" ones so you either have less of them or more room in each of the [now 4] magazines.