CUS Massachusetts (BB-1940+)
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The three modern CUA Navy battleship classes, all were being built when the next class was laid down. There was no gap for trials information from the previous class, any faults would have to be cured retrospectively. The Massachusetts type were the 45,000 ton type being 50 feet bigger and 10,000 ton heavier than the Columbia class, while keeping the same armament. Propulsion and armour chewed up most of the extra displacement.
The propulsion unit was increased in size to take the speed from 27 knots to 30 knots to match the speeds being made by the Italian and German latest battleships and what was thought to be happenning in Japan. Armour was the big winner with the belt armour going from 12.5" in the Columbia class to 15" in this ship, deck armour from 5" to 6", not large amounts in themselves but when viewed as percentages the armour between Columbia and Massachusetts increased by 20%.
| Displacement | 45,500 std 56,800 tons full load |
| Length | 780 ft |
| Breadth | 108 ft |
| Draught | 32 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines, 160,000shp |
| Speed | 30 knots |
| Range | 10500 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour | 15" side, 6" deck, 18/12/9" turrets |
| Armament | 9 x 16" (3x3) 20 x 4.5" (10x2) 68 x 40mm (17x4) 52 x 20mm (52x1) |
| Aircraft | 5 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 2100 |
| Notes | CUS Massachusetts |
