USS New York (BB-1914)
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For my purposes the New York class is the stepping stone to the bigger, four
turret, 10 and 12 gun ships that followed. The New York class ships were the
direct US Navy equivalents to the Royal Navy 'Super Dreadnoughts' armed with
10x13.5". They were probably the reason for the increase of gun size, in the
Royal Navy, from 13.5" to 15". The US then went one bigger to 16" which the
Japanese also followed. The European Navies stayed at the 15".
The previous Wyoming class with the six twin 12" was the furthest that that gun
size could be pushed. An increase in gun size to 14" would allow a reduction in
the number of turrets to five. The bigger turrets and guns would only require a
10 foot longer hull. In real life the Wyoming class are kept in service through
to the end of WW2. In my world the Wyoming class are an either/or class with the
Memphis class battlecruisers.
The main changes between the 1914 and 1918 versions was the addition of AA guns.
Single 3" being the weapon of choice during this period.
| Displacement |
27,250 tons std 30,400 tons full load (32,000 full load) |
 |
| Length |
574 ft (613 ft after refit) |
| Breadth |
95 ft (105 over bulges) |
| Draught |
30 ft |
| Machinery |
2 shaft, turbine engines, 50,000 shp (90,000shp) |
| Speed |
22 knots (27 knots after rebuild) |
| Range |
7000 miles at 12 knots |
| Armour |
12" side, 2" deck, 12" turrets (5" deck
after rebuild) |
| Armament |
As completed 1910
10 x 14" (5x2)
21 x 5" (21x1) LA
2 x 3" (2x1) LA (from 1917)
|
As rebuilt 1939-41
8 x 14" (4x2)
16 x 5" (8x2)
72 x 40mm (18x4)
26 x 20mm (26x1) |
| Complement |
870 (900) |
|
| Notes |
New York
Texas |
Last pre-war version before the ships go through their Life Extension Refit
Program 1939-40. The 5" casemates have been removed and half-a-dozen resited to
the upper deck. Many more 3" AA guns are fitted. The ships now have their first
four 28mm quad mountings and 20mm single Oerlikons. Radar also appears for the
first time. A catapult is fitted on Q turret but no hangar is provided.
Anti-torpedo bulges have been fitted.
The LERP rebuilds were very comprehensive and were to add 10 years of service
life to the ships. A complete rebuild from 'B' turret to 'X' turret was to
remove everything including 'Q' turret and all superstructure. This would be
replaced with new bridge superstructure, funnel, tertiary AA armaments and
cannons, new armoured deck, new power plant and last but not least a new longer
bow to increase weatherliness and stop plunging. So lets do the drawing and see
what comes out.
The New York and Texas spent their war as escorts to the
USS Ranger
forming an invaluable Task Force in the North Atlantic. The Western Naval Task
Force undertook various duties including, the Torch landings, actions in the
Mediterranean, operations off Norway, and finally D-Day support. Other capital
ships were added and deleted from the Task Force depending on the nature of the
job at hand, but the main core of the Fleet was the Texas, New York and Ranger.
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