World Battleships List: US Battleships and Large Cruisers

Revised 6 October 2001
Version 2.01
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan
World Battleships Lists Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/battleships/

Lexington class battlecruisers
Lexington
Constellation
Saratoga
Ranger
Constitution
United States

Alaska class large cruisers
Alaska
Guam
Hawaii
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Samoa


Lexington class battlecruisers

Final Design Specifications
Displacement: 44,638 tons full load; 51,217 tons emergency full load
Dimensions: 874 x 105 x 31 feet/266.5 x 32.1 x 9.5 meters
Propulsion: Turbo-electric, 16 295 psi boilers, 4 shafts, 180,000 shp, 33.25 knots
Crew: 1297 (1326 as flagship)
Armor: 7 inch belt, 1.5-1.75 inch deck, 5-9 inch barbettes, 5-11 inch turrets, 6-12 inch CT
Armament: 4 dual 16"/50cal, 16 single 6"/53cal, 4 single 3"/50cal AA, 4 21 inch torpedo tubes (above water), 4 21 inch torpedo tubes (submerged)

Concept/Program: A group of six large battlecruisers ordered in 1916 as fast "battle scouts", part of a large program of fleet scouting ships, which included many smaller cruisers and destroyers. These ships were essentially scaled up from contemporary cruiser designs, rather than scaled down from battleship designs, as was typical foreign practice. The ships would have been large and powerful, but poorly protected and thus vulnerable in battle. By 1921 the weaknesses of the design, and of the type in general, were apparently recognized, and consideration was given to either converting some of the ships to aircraft carriers or building new carriers using materials assembled for the battlecruisers. Ultimately all six were cancelled under the Washington Treaty, and two were completed as carriers.

Class: Sometimes identified as the Constellation class, apparently because Constellation (CC 2) was the first to be laid down. These were the only US Navy ships to which the battlecruiser classification was applied. The designation "CC", which was not formally applied until the 17 July 1920 fleet redesignation, is thought to have been derived from "Cruiser, Capital", indicating their status as capital ships.

Design: The original (1916) design for these ships was quite different from their final design. In 1916 the planned specifications were: 36,350 tons full load with 10 14"/50cal and 18 5"/51cal guns, very light armor, half of the 24 boilers located above the protective deck, and seven funnels. The entire program was suspended in 1917 to facilitate construction of merchant ships for WWI service. The class was completely redesigned 1917-1919, taking into account improved technology such as watertube boilers, foreign development of more powerful ships, the need for improved armor and anti-torpedo protection, and the lessons of Jutland. The resulting design was considerably better than the original version, but still relatively lightly armored.


Lexington
ex-Constitution
CC 1 - CV 2
Photos: [Original battlecruiser design], [Immediately prior to launch, after conversion to a carrier], [Original configuration as carrier], [After 1936 modernization], [8" guns being hoisted off], [Last photo of Lexington as an operational carrier], [Crew abandoning as ship burns], [Lexington abandoned and burning], [Death throes - the magazines explode], [Last photo of Lexington - torpedoed by friendly forces and listing to port]

DANFS History


Built by Bethlehem Fore River, Quincy, MA. Laid down 8 January 1921, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923. Reordered as carrier and redesignated CV 2 (date?), launched 3 October 1925, commissioned as carrier 14 December 1927.

During winter 1929-1930 Lexington supplied Tacoma, Washington with electrical power from her generators when the municipal power supply failed. Overhauled and modernized 1936, flight deck widened forward, general modernizations, 36 .50 cal AA added; 43,054 tons full load. Was transporting aircraft to Midway 7 December 1941. Guns altered March-April 1942; 8 inch guns removed for shore defense in Hawaii; 12 quad 1.1 inch AA and 32 single 20 mm AA were added. Briefly carried 5 3/50 AA. A major modernization was planned but never carried out because the ship was badly needed in service.

Struck by several bombs and torpedoes at Coral Sea 8 May 1942. Damage was initially controlled and the ship was able to make 25 knots and recover her aircraft, but was down by the bow. Fumes from ruptured fuel lines ignited and exploded several hours later; fire rapidly became uncontrollable. Ship was abandoned and sunk by US torpedoes.

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Constellation
CC 2

Laid down by Newport News SB&DD 18 August 1920, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923 (29.4% complete), and scrapped.

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Saratoga
CC 3 - CV 3
Photos: [Original battlecruiser design], [Original configuration as carrier], [After 1942 refit], [Returning to port after 1st torpedo damage], [Listing after 2nd torpedo damage], [Final configuration - end of WWII], [Sinking at Bikini Atoll].

DANFS History


Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 25 September 1920, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923. Reordered as carrier and redesignated CV 3 (date?), launched 7 April 1925, commissioned as carrier 16 November 1927.

Planned pre-war upgrade/overhaul cancelled because the ship was urgently required in service. 24 .50 cal AA added 1936. Was at San Diego 7 December 1941. Torpedoed by I-16 11 January 1942; suffered minor damage. Repairs at Bremerton Navy Yard included general modernization: hull bulged, flight deck widened forward, superstructure cut down, 8 inch and .50 cal guns removed; 5 dual 5/38 DP, 8 single 5/38 DP, 4 quad 40 mm AA, 5 quad 1.1 inch AA and 30 single 20 mm AA added.

Torpedoed by I-26 with serious damage 25 August 1942; disabled by shock and towed to Tonga for temporary repairs. Permanent repairs at Pearl Harbor included AA battery modification; new AA outfit was 9 quad 40 mm, 52 single 20 mm. Served with the Carrier Task Force mid-war. Refit at Hunters Point Navy Yard 9 December 1943 to 3 January 1944; 2 twin 40 mm AA and 7 quad 40 mm AA added. Operated with the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean early 1944. Refit at Puget Sound Navy Yard summer 1944.

Used mostly for training 1944-1945; returned to combat 1945. Bombed 21 February 1945 with severe damage. Repaired at Bremerton Navy Yard; rear elevator removed, half the hanger converted to berthing. Final wartime displacement well over 52,000 tons. Used as troopship postwar. Postwar was deemed unfit for further service due to age and wear; used as target ship for Operations Crossroads atom bomb tests. Survived first test blast, but was sunk by second test 25 July 1946. Stricken 15 August 1946.

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Ranger
ex-Lexington
CC 4

DANFS History

Renamed 10 December 1917. Laid down at Newport News SB&DD 23 June 1921, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923 (4% complete), and scrapped.

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Constellation
ex-Ranger
CC 5

Laid down at Philadelphia Navy Yard 25 September 1920, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923, and scrapped.

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United States
CC 6

DANFS History

Laid down at Philadelphia Navy Yard 25 September 1920, suspended 8 February 1922, cancelled 17 August 1923 (12.1% complete), and scrapped.

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Alaska class large cruisers

Displacement: 34,253 tons full load
Dimensions: 808.5 x 91 x 32 feet/246.4 x 27.8 x 9.7 meters
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 8 600 psi boilers, 4 shafts, 150,000 shp, 33 knots
Crew: 1769
Armor: 5-9 inch belt, 3.8-4 inch deck, 11-13 inch barbettes, 5-12.8 inch turrets, 5-10.6 inch CT
Armament: 3 triple 12"/50cal, 6 dual 5"/38cal DP, 14 dual 40 mm AA, 34 single 20 mm AA (CB 3-6: 15 dual 40 mm AA, 4 twin 40 mm AA, 24 dual 20 mm AA)

Concept/Program: These are the most misunderstood of all US cruisers. Although often called "battlecruisers", they were truly an outgrowth of cruiser design. They were in effect "big cruisers", whereas battlecruisers were better considered "lightly armored battleships". The Alaskas were intended as cruiser-killers, to hunt down and destroy enemy 8"-gun cruisers engaged in commerce raiding. They were a response to the powerful 8" cruisers being built abroad, and the end of the arms limitation treaties allowed the design to grow without artificial limits.

By the time the first two ships were completed, their entire mission had vanished due to major changes in the nature of naval warfare, so they are often considered "white elephants". They were very briefly considered for conversion to carriers. In the end these two ships saw service mainly as escorts for the fast carriers.

Several other nations had planned to build similar ships for similar roles, but the events of war prevented any of the foreign designs from coming to fruition.

Design: The design was based in conventional US cruiser design practices, although the general appearance was more similar to the battleships. The 12"/50cal gun was a completely new design, and consequently quite expensive. The design originally included two triples and one twin turret, but this was revised to three triples in the interests of efficiency. Armor against 12" shells was provided, although initial plans had included protection of the machinery spaces against 8" shells only. Two aircraft catapults, hangars and cranes were fitted midships. They had only one rudder, resulting in relatively poor maneuverability. The bridge and pilothouse configuration was considered deficient. In 1945-46 it was proposed to replace the aircraft facilities with two additional 5"/38cal mountings, but this was not done. Other proposed improvements included changes included replacement of the 40 mm with 3"/50cal.

Departure from Service/Disposal: Both decommissioned shortly after the war and laid up in reserve for many years, but saw no additional service. They were considered for conversion to guided missile ships, but it was more practical to convert the numerous heavy cruisers (CA) that were in reserve, as the smaller vessels could carry nearly as many missiles as the Alaskas, with lower operating costs. The third ship was retained in reserve, in an advanced stage of completion, and was considered for several conversions, but was never put into service.


Alaska
CB 1
Photos: [Alaska as completed].

DANFS History


Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 17 December 1941, launched 15 August 1943, commissioned 17 June 1944.

Operated with the Carrier Task Force throughout 1945, as an escort; also saw very limited shore bombardment duty. Was assigned to the force protecting the crippled carrier Franklin.

Reduced to commissioned reserve 13 August 1946, decommissioned to reserve 16 February 1947. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1960, sold 30 June 1960, scrapped at Newark starting July 1961.

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Guam
CB 2
Photos: [Guam as completed].

DANFS History


Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 2 February 1942, launched 12 November 1943, commissioned 17 September 1944.

Operated with the Carrier Task Force starting March 1945, as an escort. Was assigned to the force protecting the crippled carrier Franklin.

Decommissioned to reserve 17 February 1947. Stricken for disposal 1 June 1960, sold 24 May 1961, scrapped at Baltimore starting August 1961.

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Hawaii
CB 3 - CBC 1 - CB 3
Photos: [Hawaii after construction was suspended].

DANFS History


Built by New York Shipbuilding. Suspended April 1942, resumed, laid down 20 December 1943, launched 11 March 1945, suspended 17 February 1947 (82.4% complete) and laid up in reserve. Conversion to a missile test ship was proposed in 1946-47, and some work was done in preparation for the conversion, including removal of the 12" guns, but the project was cancelled 9 July 1947 because missile technology was not sufficiently advanced. A conversion to a guided missile cruiser, with a dual operational/developmental role, was proposed in 1951, but was cancelled so Hawaii could be converted to a command ship.

Redesignated CBC 1 26 February 1953 for conversion to a command ship, but this project was also cancelled; redesignated CB 3 9 October 1954. Stricken for disposal 9 June 1958, sold 1959, scrapped at Baltimore starting January 1960.

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Philippines
CB 4

DANFS History

Assigned to New York Shipbuilding for construction. Suspended April 1943, cancelled 24 June 1943; never laid down.

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Puerto Rico
CB 5

DANFS History

Assigned to New York Shipbuilding for construction. Suspended April 1943, cancelled 24 June 1943; never laid down.

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Samoa
CB 6

DANFS History

Assigned to New York Shipbuilding for construction. Suspended April 1943, cancelled 24 June 1943; never laid down.

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The World Battleship Lists
Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
Copyright © 1995-2003 by Andrew Toppan
Reproduction, reuse or distribution without permission is prohibited