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Photo # NH 63502-KN:  South Dakota class battleship.  Painting by Rose Stokes, 1922

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIP TYPES -- BATTLESHIPS --

South Dakota Class (BB-49 through BB-54)
1918-1919 Building Programs. Construction cancelled in 1922.

The six battleships of the South Dakota class were slower but more heavily armed and armored contemporaries of the Lexington class battle cruisers. All were laid down in 1920 and 1921, only to be suspended under the terms of the Naval Limitations Treaty in February 1922 when they were between 11% and 38% completed. All six remained on the building ways until October-November 1923, when they were sold for scrapping.

Like the Lexington class, the South Dakota's were large ships, with a designed displacement nearly a third greater than their immediate predecessors. These were classic U.S. Navy battleships, well protected against gunfire and torpedoes, heavily armed, but relatively slow, intended to prevail in a big-gun slugging match with an enemy battleline. Their main battery represented a fifty-percent increase in number of guns (twelve versus eight), and these 16" guns were of a somewhat more powerful type than those fitted to previous U.S. battleships. After cancellation of their ships, some of these weapons were employed for seacoast defense. Armor and boilers from the South Dakota class were also recycled for use in modernizing older battleships.

The six South Dakota class battleships were being constructed at five locations:

  • South Dakota (BB-49). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the New York Navy Yard in March 1920. Construction cancelled when the ship was 38.5% completed and she was broken up on the building ways.
  • Indiana (BB-50). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the New York Navy Yard in November 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship scrapped on the building ways.
  • Montana (BB-51). Fiscal year 1918 program. Keel laid at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in September 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was broken up on the building ways.
  • North Carolina (BB-52). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, in January 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was broken up on the building ways.
  • Iowa (BB-53). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Newport News, Virginia, in May 1920. Construction cancelled and the ship was scrapped on the building ways.
  • Massachusetts (BB-54). Fiscal year 1919 program. Keel laid at Quincy, Massachusetts, in April 1921. Construction cancelled when the ship was about 11% completed and she was broken up on the building ways.

    South Dakota class design characteristics:

  • Displacement: 43,200 tons
  • Dimensions: 684' (length overall); 106' (maximum beam)
  • Powerplant: 60,000 horsepower steam turbines with electric drive, producing a 23 knot maximum speed
  • Armament (Main Battery): Twelve 16"/50 guns in four triple turrets
  • Armament (Secondary Battery): Sixteen 6"/53 guns in single mountings (eight guns on each side of the ship)

    This page features all our images related to the South Dakota class battleship design and provides links to what views we have of the individual ships under construction.

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 63502-KN (Color)

    South Dakota class battleship (BB 49-54)

    Artist's conception painting by Rose Stokes, 1922.
    The six ships of this class, whose construction was cancelled in 1922, were:
    South Dakota (BB-49)
    Indiana (BB-50)
    Montana (BB-51)
    North Carolina (BB-52)
    Iowa (BB-53)
    Massachusetts (BB-54)

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44895

    South Dakota class battleship (BB 49-54)


    Artwork by F. Muller, circa 1920.
    The ships of this class, whose construction was cancelled in 1922 under the terms of the Naval Limitations Treaty, were:
    South Dakota (BB-49);
    Indiana (BB-50);
    Montana (BB-51);
    North Carolina (BB-52);
    Iowa (BB-53);
    Massachusetts (BB-54);

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 410 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-94978

    South Dakota class battleship (BB 49-54)


    Official model, photographed circa 1920.
    The ships of this class, none of which were completed, were:
    South Dakota (BB-49);
    Indiana (BB-50);
    Montana (BB-51);
    North Carolina (BB-52);
    Iowa (BB-53);
    Massachusetts (BB-54);

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-WP-975

    "New Naval Vessels Now Building for Our Fleet"


    Poster from the "What the Navy is Doing" series, published by the Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York, circa 1919.
    It depicts the Lexington (CC-1) class battle cruisers and South Dakota (BB-49) class battleships then planned or in early stages of construction. These twelve ships were cancelled under the naval limitations treaty of 1922.

    Photograph from the Collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 650 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-WP-1002

    "16 Inch Guns for Our Dreadnaughts"


    Poster from the "What the Navy is Doing" series, published by the Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York, circa 1919.
    It depicts the manufacture of 16"/50 guns at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., for installation in the Lexington (CC-1) class battle cruisers and South Dakota (BB-49) class battleships then planned or in early stages of construction. Also shown are pictures of the battle cruiser design, a firing test at Indian Head, Maryland, and the effect of 16-inch shells on heavy armor.

    Photograph from the Collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 650 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 81481

    Sixteen-inch, 50 Caliber, Mark 2, Mod. 1 Gun Barrel


    On display in East Willard Park, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., in October 1972. This gun is Number 111, built at the Washington Navy Yard in 1922 for planned installation on the abortive South Dakota (BB 49-54) class battleships and Lexington (CC 1-6) class battle cruisers.
    Note railway trucks supporting the gun barrel.
    The two sixteen-inch projectiles displayed alongside the gun are inert shells fired by USS New Jersey into San Clemente Island, California, during shore bombardment practice in 1968.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 161KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 81482

    Sixteen-inch, 50 Caliber, Mark 2, Mod. 1 Gun Barrel


    On display in East Willard Park, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., in October 1972. This gun is Number 111, built at the Washington Navy Yard in 1922 for planned installation on the abortive South Dakota (BB 49-54) class battleships and Lexington (CC 1-6) class battle cruisers.
    Note railway trucks supporting the gun barrel.
    The two sixteen-inch projectiles displayed alongside the gun are inert shells fired by USS New Jersey into San Clemente Island, California, during shore bombardment practice in 1968.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 181KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     

    For coverage of other classes of U.S. Navy battleships, see: Battleships -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 8 May 2000
    Coding updated 26 March 2001