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New Mexico Class Battleships
The New Mexico class battleship was a series of four battleships of the United States Navy which served during the Global War and beyond. Originally to be minor improvements over the Oklahoma class, a substantial increase in size allowed for a jump in Firepower with the world’s first 16“ guns. Well liked by their crews, these ships were regarded as roomy and good seaboats. However, they were built at a time when battleships speeds were increasing and these ships were 2 to 5 knots slower than their contemporaries. By the 1920's their low speed was the greatest criticism.
All ships were completed by late 1918 and served during the Global War, with the Texas being sunk on the Battle of Wake. The rest of the ships appeared in every single major battle of the Pacific Campaign and later were send to be upgraded from 1940 to 1942 to repair major battle damage to the ships.
The three remaining units of the class survived the post-war cutbacks and were used in Operation Scabbards in 1945 and Operation Broadsword in 1952 supporting the landings on the islands of Cuba and Haiti, respectively. The were upgraded again in 1953-54, receiving newer AA batteries but by the end of the decade they were over forty-year old. They were put on the reserve fleet in 1963. With the casualties suffered by the US Navy during the Global War the ships were reactivated in late 1967 and served in the Pacific Fleet until finally being send to mothballs in 1974.
Ships
General Characteristics
Displacement: 34,240 tons Length: 660 feet Beam: 102 feet Draft: 29 feet Speed: 21 knots Armament: ten 16-inch(5×2), 14 five-inch.