Wyoming Class


Type: battleship
Principal user: US Navy
Ship builder laid launched commissioned history
USS Wyoming (BB-32) Cramp & Sons shipbuilding Feb 9, 1910 May 25, 1911 Sep 25, 1912 converted to gunnery trainer, 1930
USS Arkansas (BB-33) New York shipbuilding Jan 25, 1910 jan 14, 1911 Sep 17, 1912 see history
Design History: These ships were supposed to be the first US warship armed with the 14" gun, but the guns were not yet developed at the time of constryction so the 12" design was retained. These ships were similar to dreadnaught type ships in general design, typical of the design of ships of this time. They were reconstrycted in 1925-1927. The Wyoming was converted to a gunnery trainer in 1930 her 12" guns were removed and several smaller calibers mounted. The Arkansas has the distinction of being the oldest US battleship to fight in WWII. She was updated in 1942 with the latest AA weapons, directors, and radar.

Dimensions

Displacement: 27, 240 tons (full load); 31, 000 tons (full load of Arkansas in 1945)
                          26, 000 tons (design)
Length: 562' (overall); 554' (waterline)
Beam: 93.2' (design); 104' (1927)
Draft: 26'

Propulsion

Boilers: 12 mix-fired(oil and coal) boilers (design)
                replaced by 4 White Forster oil fired boilers
Turbines: Parsons geared steam driving 4 shafts.
Horsepower: 28, 000 shp (design); 43, 187 shp (after reconstruction)
Speed: 21 knots
Endurance: (after reconstruction): 14, 000 nautical miles at 10 knots; 7, 000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Armament

Main: 12 12"/50 caliber Mk 7 in 6 twin turrets (2 fore, 2 amidships, 2 aft)
Secondary: 21 5"/51 caliber Mk 7 in casemates (5 removed in reconstruction). Arkansas retained 6 in 1945.
Anti-Aircraft: 8 .50 caliner machine guns (design)
                          8 3"/50 caliber Mk 2 (added in reconstruction)
                          9 quad 40mm Bofors mounts and 29 20mm Oerlikons. (Arkansas in 1945)
 
Torpedoes: 2 21" submerged tubes. (removed before WWII)

Armour

Main Belt: 11"
Deck: 3" (main); 2" (second); 1.5" (extra over magazines)
            added during reconstruction: 1.5" to 1" (to second deck); 1.5" (added at forward edge of armour belt); .75" (over steering gear)
Barbettes: 11"
Turrets: 12" (face and sides); 8" (rear); 3" STS (roof)
Conning Tower: 11.5" (sides); 3" STS (roof)
 

Crew: 1063 officers and men (design); 1330 (Arkansas in 1945)
Tactical Analysis:  The Arkansas was still a capable shore bombardment platform and spent most of the war on this duty.
Interesting and Strange Facts: The USS Arkansas was the oldest US warship to serve in WWII.