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USS Washington was a member of the Colorado Class of battleships, but work on her was abandoned after the Washington Naval Treaty was signed and she was instead used as a gunnery target.
The Washington was laid down on 30 June 1919 and launched two years later, on 1 September 1921. Two months later, in November 1921, the Washington Naval Conference began. It lasted until February 1922 and ended with an agreement to limit the construction of battleships. By this date the Washington was 75.9% complete, but one member of her four-ship class had to be sacrificed and the Washington was chosen.
Work stopped on 8 February. No alternative use was found for her hull, and instead she was used as a gunnery target. She was sunk at sea while serving in that role on 25 November 1924. The name was reused on the USS Washington (BB 56), the second of two North Carolina class battleships, the first new American battleships to be constructed after the end of the Washington Treaty 'building holiday'.
Displacement (standard) |
32,600t |
Displacement (loaded) |
33,590t |
Top Speed |
21kts |
Range |
8,000nm at 10kts |
Armour – belt |
13.5in-8in |
- deck |
3.5in |
- turret faces |
18in or 16in |
- turret sides |
10-9in |
- turret top |
5in |
- turret rear |
9in |
- barbettes |
13in |
- coning tower |
16in |
- coning tower top |
8in |
Length |
624ft |
Width |
97ft 5in |
Armaments |
Eight 16in guns in four twin turrets |
Crew complement |
1,080 |
Laid down |
30 June 1919 |
Launched |
1 September 1921 |
Completed |
Never |
Fate |
Sunk as target 25 November 1924 |