Colorado class battleship, USS West Virginia (BB-48) - The last of the standard battleships

[de Radio Demon@live 266]

                      Colorado class battleship, USS West Virginia (BB-48) -  The last of the standard battleships

                                                                                        

 

History

USS West Virginia (BB-48) was the third ship of the Colorado class of battleship, being ordered on the 5th of December, 1916 but wouldn't be laid down until 3 years later on December 5th, 1920.

Even though USS West Virginia was the 3rd ship of the Colorado class she would be the fourth ship laid down with USS Washington being the 3rd ship of the class laid down, however thanks to the Washington naval treaty the tonnage restrictions required one of the ships had to be canceled, however originally the state of the Treaty would have required 2 of the ships would need to be canceled however thanks to the effort of Japan being determined to keep the Mutsu they in exchange were allowed to keep Mutsu in allowance for the US to have the third ship of the Colorado class and the British to build the Nelson class of Battleship. As for why the USS Virginia was chosen over the more complete USS Washington which was started a year prior, being laid down on June 30th, 1919 compared to West Virginia can be attributed to the fact that she would probably have ended up completing faster than the more completed USS Washington since USS West Virginia would end up being launched on November 19th, 1921 while the Washington would be launched on September 1st, 1921, catching up in construction from a 18 month gap from being down to 2 month gap from time of launch. USS West Virginia would then be commissioned on December 1st, 1923 as the last American battleship built until the North Carolina class as a ship under the Washington naval treaty. Being apart of the Colorado class of battleship, USS Virginia was the last true standard class of battleship, she would also be apart of group of ships referred to as "The Big 7" as there was only 7 battleships armed with 16 inch guns at the time. 

 

One of the first things that would occur to the ship after her sea trials and shakedown cruise on June 16th, 1924  loss power to her telegraphs to the engine room as well as the steering room losing all power while on the way to be overhauled due to some problems with the system. The captain of the ship would then using the voice tubes order the port engine to full and have starboard to stop in a attempt to steer the vessel away from shore. However like a many number of American battleships that came before and would come after, she ran aground off friendly shores. 

Following this in the 1920's she would take part in a number of training exercises during the time when the US navy was testing operation and strategic doctrine that would culminate in the "Fleet Problems". In April during one of theses "Fleet Problem" exercises would along with the battleship USS Tennessee would accidentally shoot at the USS Saratoga, mistaking her for her sister USS Lexington. During this time she would also have her anti air modifications as she would have her 3 inch AA guns being replaced with new 5-inch 25 caliber gun and .50 cal machine guns.                                                                          

                                                                                        

 

In 1939 with the outbreak of War in Europe would have her AA defenses evaluated which came to the conclusion that the ship should have blisters added to increase stability, adopt the 5-inch/38 caliber gun, and the decks should be strengthen however none of this would be done as with tensions rising with Japan she along with other ships of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor taking part in more training exercises.

 

World war 2

 On December 7, 1941, USS West Virginia would be moored on battleship row on the outer edge of the line of ships when Japan would attack, she would take at least several hits from torpedos and multiple hits from Dive bombers using modified 16 inch shells as ap bombs, she would sink in the Harbor sitting upright thanks to the efforts of damage control parties who limited the damage as much as possible.

                                                                                            

                                                                                        

Following the attack, she would be raised in the effort to salvage and bring ships sunk in Pearl Harbor back into service, with USS West Virginia being successfully raised on may 17th, 1942. She would then like the other battleships from Pearl Harbor that would be brought back to the west coast upon more minor repair would be brought back to the US West coast. USS West Virginia would then go under major modernization that would be complete in July of 1944. This would see the addition of many new anti aircraft guns such as the dual purpose 5 inch (8x2) .38 caliber guns that were found on every American battleship since the North Carolina class, the addition on 10 quad 40mm (40 total) Bofors, and 43 20mm Oerlikon however this would grow in number to over 50 20 mm guns over time, and to compensate for this weight she had newer torpedo bulges added which prevented her from passing through the Panama canal.

                                                                                        

Once back into service she would then be sent to the Philippines to provide shore bombardment. During the battle of Leyete Gulf USS west Virginia would be apart of the southern force along with other American battleships since they were too slow to keep up with the carriers to the North. Along with mostly battleships from the Pearl Harbor attack the battleships Maryland, Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania, plus Mississippi who was not at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. They would engage the smaller Japanese force lead by 2 of their older battleships Fuso and Yamashiro in what would be the last great fight between battleships in which Fuso would be attacked and sunk by a mixture of pt boats and destroyers leaving the Yamashiro to fight the much older but more power fun American task force, they would all engage the Yamashiro who would then turn around as the Japanese admiral of the souther group saw that their was no chance of winning and would order the ship to retreat after taking critical damage and would then later sink due to flooding from torpedos launched by the American destroyers.

                                                                                   

 

Once this action was over USS west Virginia with no real naval surface threats to shoot at would go back to the role of most late war American battleship of shore bombardments as she would continue to cover the landings and support the troop in the Philippines as she begin to also encounter the kamakazie threat that she would happily enjoy dealing with her extensive and heavy AA battery. Next she would also take apart of the battle of Iwo Jima repeating her role starting on October 19th, 1945, once Iwo Jima was also taken she would then also take apart of the Invasion of Okinawa starting in March 26th however she would then on April 7th be informed of the battleship Yamato heading their way and would be sent to intercept Yamato and her escorts however the US Navy's Carrier aircraft after learning the more effective way of thinking Yamato after Musashi would prevent the Japanese task force from reaching the island, once this letdown had been completed she would then once again take part in more shore bombardment. At the end of the war she would be present in Tokyo Bay on the day of the surrender ceremonies. She would receive 5 battle stars during the entire war even though she missed most of it due to damage from Pearl Harbor.

                                                                                        

Post war 

Following the end of the war USS West Virginia she would receive on October 27th, 1945 over 20,000 visitors onboard during the Navy day celebrations and 3 days later would leave to take part in Operation Magic carpet in order to bring troops in the pacific home, she would make 3 runs during the operation from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. In January 12th, 1945 she would move the Bremerton to be deactivated and put into the US reserve fleet, she would then end up in Seattle Washington along side her sister USS Colorado. Finally on March 1st 1959, USS West Virginia would be stricken from the naval register and was broken up on January 3rd, 1961 after being sold to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp in 1959.

 

Specifications

As Built

Spoiler

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length : 624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam: 97 ft 6 in (29.72 m)

 

Draft: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed: 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Complement: 1,165 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 16 in (406mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armament:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber guns

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/51 caliber guns

8 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber guns

2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

1944 

Spoiler

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length:624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam: 114 ft (35 m)

 

Draft:30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed: 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Complement: 1,407 to 2,350 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 16 in (406mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armaments:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber gun (4 x 2)

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns (8x2)  

40 x 40mm Bofors (10 x 4)

43 x 20mm Oerlikons ( 43 x 1)

 

1945

Spoiler

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length:624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam: 114 ft (35 m)

 

Draft:30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed: 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Complement: 1,407 to 2,350 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 16 in (406mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armaments:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber gun (4 x 2)

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns (8x2)  

40 x 40mm Bofors (10 x 4)

53 x 20mm Oerlikons ( 53 x 1) (Possibly 59 guns however sources say 53 so take number with a grain of salt)

 

Sources

Spoiler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_West_Virginia_(BB-48)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Naval_Treaty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Washington_(BB-47)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf#Battle_of_the_Sibuyan_Sea

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/USS_West_Virginia_(BB-48)

https://maritime.org/doc/plans/bb48.pdf

Image sources

Spoiler

https://news.lib.wvu.edu/2016/12/07/uss-west-virginia-the-phoenix-of-pearl-harbor/

https://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/ships/battleships-us/6841/view/uss_bb-48_west_virginia_1945/

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor-raid/post-attack-ship-salvage/salvage-and-repair-of-uss-west-virginia--december-1941---april-1.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/uss-west-virginia-survived-pearl-harbor-attack-2016-2

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-w/bb48.htm

Edited February 14, 2023 by de Radio Demon@live

[ItssLuBu 1,798]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Valcour 1,141]

I want all of the Standards to be in game.  As built and final mods.  For example Arizona and Oklahoma would of course be as sunk. Event specials perhaps.

 

[Milocat 4,850]

Yes please.  +1 from me.

[Admiral_Aruon 2,264]

nice! i actually have a suggestion for the Nevada-class in the works back-to-back after the suggestion i'm doing now, so it's nice to see other Standard-Types getting their day too

[ShermanWasRight 4]

On 25/01/2021 at 15:21, de Radio Demon@live said:

USS West Virginia (BB-48)

The last of the standard battleships

(Notice: this suggestion will retain information relevant to USS Colorado as USS West Virginia is the 3rd (4th to some) of the same class)

                                                                                           

                                                                                           

 

History

USS West Virginia (BB-48) was the third ship of the Colorado class of battleship, being ordered in 5th of December, 1916 but wouldn't be laid down until 3 years later on December 5th, 1920.

Even though USS West Virginia was the 3rd ship of the Colorado class she would be the fourth ship laid down with USS Washington being the 3rd ship of the class laid down, however thanks to the Washington naval treaty the tonnage restrictions required one of the ships had to be canceled, however originally the state of the Treaty would have required 2 of the ships would need to be canceled however thanks to the effort of Japan being determined to keep the Mutsu they in exchange were allowed to keep Mutsu in allowance for the US to have the third ship of the Colorado class and the British to build the Nelson class of Battleship. As for why the USS Virginia was chosen over the more complete USS Washington which was started a year prior, being laid down on June 30th, 1919 compared to West Virginia can be attributed to the fact that she would probably have ended up completing faster than the more completed USS Washington since USS West Virginia would end up being launched on November 19th, 1921 while the Washington would be launched on September 1st, 1921, catching up in construction from a 18 month gap from being down to 2 month gap from time of launch.

USS West Virginia would then be commissioned on December 1st, 1923 as the last American battleship built until the North Carolina class as a ship under the Washington naval treaty.

 

 

Being apart of the Colorado class of battleship, USS Virginia was the last true standard class of battleship, she would also be apart of group of ships referred to as "The Big 7" as there was only 7 battleships armed with 16 inch guns at the time. 

 

One of the first things that would occur to the ship after her sea trials and shakedown cruise on June 16th, 1924  loss power to her telegraphs to the engine room as well as the steering room losing all power while on the way to be overhauled due to some problems with the system. The captain of the ship would then using the voice tubes order the port engine to full and have starboard to stop in a attempt to steer the vessel away from shore. However like a many number of American battleships that came before and would come after, she ran aground off friendly shores. 

Following this in the 1920's she would take part in a number of training exercises during the time when the US navy was testing operation and strategic doctrine that would culminate in the "Fleet Problems". In April during one of theses "Fleet Problem" exercises would along with the battleship USS Tennessee would accidentally shoot at the USS Saratoga, mistaking her for her sister USS Lexington. During this time she would also have her anti air modifications as she would have her 3 inch AA guns being replaced with new 5-inch .25 caliber gun and .50 cal machine guns.

                                                                                               

                                                                                   

 

 

In 1939 with the outbreak of War in Europe would have her AA defenses evaluated which came to the conclusion that the ship should have blisters added to increase stability, adopt the 5 - inch .38 caliber gun, and the decks should be strengthen however none of this would be done. 

With tensions rising with Japan she along with other ships of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor taking part in more training exercises.

 

World war 2

 

 On December 7, 1941, USS West Virginia would be moored on battleship row on the outer edge of the line of ships when Japan would attack, she would take at least several hits from torpedos and multiple hits from Dive bombers using modified 16 inch shells as ap bombs, she would sink in the Harbor sitting upright thanks to the efforts of damage control parties who limited the damage as much as possible.

                                                                                            

                                                                                        

 

 

Following the attack, she would be raised in the effort to salvage and bring ships sunk in Pearl Harbor back into service, with USS West Virginia being successfully raised on may 17th, 1942. She would then like the other battleships from Pearl Harbor that would be brought back to the west coast upon more minor repair would be brought back to the US West coast. USS West Virginia would then go under major modernization that would be complete in July of 1944. This would see the addition of many new anti aircraft guns such as the dual purpose 5 inch (8x2) .38 caliber guns that were found on every American battleship since the North Carolina class, the addition on 10 quad 40mm (40 total) Bofors, and 43 20mm Oerlikon however this would grow in number to over 50 20 mm guns over time, and to compensate for this weight she had newer torpedo bulges added which prevented her from passing through the Panama canal.

                                                                                        

 

Once back into service she would then be sent to the Philippines to provide shore bombardment. During the battle of Leyete Gulf USS west Virginia would be apart of the southern force along with other American battleships since they were too slow to keep up with the carriers to the North. Along with mostly battleships from the Pearl Harbor attack the battleships Maryland, Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania, plus Mississippi who was not at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. They would engage the smaller Japanese force lead by 2 of their older battleships Fuso and Yamashiro in what would be the last great fight between battleships in which Fuso would be attacked and sunk by a mixture of pt boats and destroyers leaving the Yamashiro to fight the much older but more power fun American task force, they would all engage the Yamashiro who would then turn around as the Japanese admiral of the souther group saw that their was no chance of winning and would order the ship to retreat after taking critical damage and would then later sink due to flooding from torpedos launched by the American destroyers.

                                                                                   

 

Once this action was over USS west Virginia with no real naval surface threats to shoot at would go back to the role of most late war American battleship of shore bombardments as she would continue to cover the landings and support the troop in the Philippines as she begin to also encounter the kamakazie threat that she would happily enjoy dealing with her extensive and heavy AA battery. Next she would also take apart of the battle of Iwo Jima repeating her role starting on October 19th, 1945, once Iwo Jima was also taken she would then also take apart of the Invasion of Okinawa starting in March 26th however she would then on April 7th be informed of the battleship Yamato heading their way and would be sent to intercept Yamato and her escorts however the US Navy's Carrier aircraft after learning the more effective way of thinking Yamato after Musashi would prevent the Japanese task force from reaching the island, once this letdown had been completed she would then once again take part in more shore bombardment. At the end of the war she would be present in Tokyo Bay on the day of the surrender ceremonies. She would receive 5 battle stars during the entire war even though she missed most of it due to damage from Pearl Harbor.

                                                                                           

                                                                                         

 

 

Post war 

Following the end of the war USS West Virginia she would receive on October 27th, 1945 over 20,000 visitors onboard during the Navy day celebrations and 3 days later would leave to take part in Operation Magic carpet in order to bring troops in the pacific home, she would make 3 runs during the operation from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. In January 12th, 1945 she would move the Bremerton to be deactivated and put into the US reserve fleet, she would then end up in Seattle Washington along side her sister USS Colorado. Finally on March 1st 1959, USS West Virginia would be stricken from the naval register and was broken up on January 3rd, 1961 after being sold to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp in 1959.

 

Specifications:

 

(As Built)

 

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length:624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam:97 ft 6 in (29.72 m)

 

Draft:30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed:21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Range:8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)

 

Complement: 1,165 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 11.5 in (292 mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armament:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber guns

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/51 caliber guns

8 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber guns

2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

 

1944 

 

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length:624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam: 114 ft (35 m)

 

Draft:30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed:21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Range:8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)

 

Complement:1,407 to 2,350 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 11.5 in (292 mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armaments:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber gun (4 x 2)

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns (8x2)  

40 x 40mm Bofors (10 x 4)

43 x 20mm Oerlikons ( 43 x 1)

 

1945

 

Displacement:

32,693 long tons (33,218 t) (design)

33,590 long tons (34,130 t) (full load)

 

Length:624 ft (190 m)

 

Beam: 114 ft (35 m)

 

Draft:30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)

 

Installed power:

8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers

28,900 shp (21,600 kW)

 

Propulsion:

4 × General Electric turbo-electric drive

4 × Propellers

 

Speed:21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)

 

Range:8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)

 

Complement: 1,407 to 2,350 officers and men

 

Armor:

Belt: 8–13.5 in (203–343 mm)

Barbettes: 13 in (330 mm)

Turret face: 18 in (457 mm)

Turret sides: 9–10 in (229–254 mm)

Turret top: 5 in (127 mm)

Turret rear 9 in (229 mm)

Conning tower: 11.5 in (292 mm)

Decks: 3.5 in (89 mm)

 

Armaments:

8 × 16 in (406 mm)/45 caliber gun (4 x 2)

16 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns (8x2)  

40 x 40mm Bofors (10 x 4)

53 x 20mm Oerlikons ( 53 x 1) (I did some counting on these guns and the online images of the ship and they showed up to 59 of these guns so if any one can confirm this or not that would appreciated)

 

Why should USS West Virginia be added? (opinion)

Compared to the other Colorado class battleships, what makes USS West Virginia so unique is the way she was upgraded, unlike Colorado who was based at Pearl Harbor but was out on a training exercise, during the Pearl Harbor attack and her sister Maryland who took much less damage than her sister, West Virginia would be sunk and because of this took more time to come back into service and as a result would undergo changes that would make far more different than her sisters, her modifications would end up making her look more like Tennessee class of battleships that were also modernized after Pearl Harbor with her new superstructure which showed no sign of the original. In all fairness her sisters did eventually receive similar Amount of AA guns however this still didn't negate the improvements that West Virginia herself had undergone and adding her into the game eventually would be able to represent her as a unique ship of her class since the changes she underwent would have probably made her a sub class of the Colorado if she was built like her 1944 general configuration due to all the changes.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_West_Virginia_(BB-48)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Naval_Treaty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Washington_(BB-47)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf#Battle_of_the_Sibuyan_Sea

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/USS_West_Virginia_(BB-48)

https://maritime.org/doc/plans/bb48.pdf (Full blueprints included on pre modernization included)

Image sources:

https://news.lib.wvu.edu/2016/12/07/uss-west-virginia-the-phoenix-of-pearl-harbor/

https://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/ships/battleships-us/6841/view/uss_bb-48_west_virginia_1945/

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor-raid/post-attack-ship-salvage/salvage-and-repair-of-uss-west-virginia--december-1941---april-1.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/uss-west-virginia-survived-pearl-harbor-attack-2016-2

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-w/bb48.htm

 

 

I am still livid they just went and scrapped her like that.

She's a legend man.... Why you gotta do her dirty like that? What'd the Iowa class ships do? Why do they get turned into museum ships? She was the only ship from Pearl Harbour present at the Japanese surrender. Now the West Virginia is merely an Ohio class submarine... Sure, a submarine with the capability to end the world as we know it, with its nuclear missiles and nuclear reactor, but a submarine nonetheless. When are we getting a West Virginia/Appalachia/Chuck Yeager class supercarrier?