Battleship vermont

The Vermont-class battleships were a series of battleships proposed for the United States Navy in the early 1920s. The design was an evolution of the preceding Colorado class, but with improved armor protection, propulsion, and armament.

The lead ship of the class, USS Vermont (BB-20), was authorized by Congress in 1916 and laid down in 1919. However, the ship was cancelled in 1922 before completion due to budget constraints and arms limitation treaties. The second ship, USS Maine (BB-21), was also authorized in 1916 and laid down in 1919, but was likewise cancelled in 1922.

The third and final ship, USS New Hampshire (BB-25), was authorized in 1917 and laid down in 1920. She was completed and commissioned in 1923, serving as the flagship of the US Pacific Fleet until 1927. New Hampshire was then decommissioned and placed in reserve until 1930, when she was sold for scrap.

The Vermont class battleships were designed to be 624 feet long, 97 feet wide, and displace 43,200 tons. They were powered by four steam turbines and twelve boilers, producing a top speed of 21 knots. The main armament consisted of eight 16-inch guns in four twin turrets, with a secondary armament of twelve 5-inch guns and numerous smaller caliber guns for close-in defense.

Despite their cancellation and limited service, the Vermont-class battleships were significant in the development of US battleship design. They were the last class of US battleships to feature the "all-or-nothing" armor scheme, which focused heavy armor protection on vital areas of the ship. They were also among the first US battleships to use oil fuel instead of coal, and to be equipped with aircraft catapults.

Overall, the Vermont-class battleships represented the US Navy's pursuit of modern and powerful battleships in the aftermath of World War I, but were ultimately limited by budget constraints and changing international relations.