CSS Monterey (BC-1910 (1937-mod))

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This two ship class were the first true capital ships built for the Confederates States Navy. Like the French and Germans they had been appraised of the new dreadnought cruisers and had believed they were to be armed with 9.2" guns. The CSN designers took the prior Tennessee class armoured cruisers, doubled the number of main guns, doubled the propulsion horsepower on turbine machinery, and lowered the secondary battery from 6" to 5". The resulting ship was a long lean fighting machine. The CSN 10" guns fitted to these ships were as powerfull as the older 12" fitted to many countries battleships. Firing further than the UK 12" with a faster rate of fire, it was felt that while the gun size may have been inferior, the ships overall were superior to the UK Invincible type and the French and German first dreadnought cruisers.

The cage masts were replaced with tripod masts in 1917. Four 3" AA guns were fitted at the same time. The ships proved excellent in service and made a very usefull Task Force when acting with the Puerto Rico class ships.

Given a similar rebuilding to the Puerto Rico class, these ships differed in being fitted with a cross deck catapult and hangar for two aircraft built into the center of the ship. This meant that the Monterey's were fitted with six of the twin 3.9" turrets instead of the better 5.1" for which there was inadequate space. 40mm and 20mm were fitted in various places over the next few years as they became available. New propulsion systems and deck armour were fitted during the rebuilding phase.

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