The Montana-class battleships are one of those remarkable “what if” stories in naval history—bold, powerful, and a vivid illustration of how quickly the nature of warfare can change. Conceived at a time when battleships ruled the oceans, these vessels were intended to be the largest and most formidable the U.S. Navy had ever imagined.
Yet despite careful planning and high expectations, not a single Montana ever took to the seas. Their story offers a fascinating glimpse into how naval strategy evolved and the difficult choices that shape military innovation.
Before the outbreak of World War II, battleships were the ultimate symbol of naval power. Every major navy competed to build bigger guns, thicker armor, and faster ships to outmatch rivals. The Montana-class was America’s answer, designed as an evolution of the fast and heavily armed Iowa-class battleships. Other nations were pursuing “super-battleships” as well, though few ever made it to active service. Authorized under the 1940 Two-Ocean Navy Act, the Montanas were planned as a class of five, meant to push battleship design to the very limits.
In terms of sheer size, the Montanas were truly immense. Fully loaded, each would have displaced over 70,000 tons—larger than the Iowas and approaching the scale of the legendary Yamato-class. At 921 feet long with a beam of 121 feet, these ships were so massive that even the Panama Canal locks would have required modifications to accommodate them.
Their firepower was equally formidable. Twelve 16-inch guns mounted in four triple turrets gave them three more main guns than the Iowas and roughly 25 percent more firepower. The secondary battery featured twenty 5-inch dual-purpose guns, more powerful than those on earlier battleships, while dozens of smaller weapons were planned for anti-aircraft defense, with numbers expected to grow as aerial threats advanced.
Protection was another major focus. The central armor belt was 16.1 inches thick and sloped for added strength, with turret faces reinforced up to 18 inches. Critical spaces such as ammunition magazines and engine rooms had additional layers of armor, and hull designs incorporated features to resist torpedoes and mines. In many respects, the Montanas were the first American battleships designed to withstand direct hits from their own formidable guns.
Despite their power, the Montanas traded some speed for strength. Powered by eight boilers generating 172,000 horsepower, they could reach 28 knots—a respectable pace, but not enough to outmaneuver faster vessels. This reflected a broader philosophy: these battleships were intended to endure and exchange heavy fire, rather than rely on speed or evasion.
But as World War II unfolded, the rules of naval warfare changed. Aircraft carriers proved that planes could strike battleships from miles away, and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 highlighted just how vulnerable even the strongest battleships were to aerial assault.
By 1943, although the Montana-class had been approved and funded, the Navy made the difficult decision to cancel construction. Resources were redirected to building more aircraft carriers and additional Iowa-class battleships—a forward-looking choice that ensured the U.S. Navy would dominate the Pacific theater. Had they been built, the Montanas might have been outdated before ever seeing combat.
Over the years, myths have grown around these ships. Some suggested they were merely larger Iowas with an extra turret, or that they were built to match the Yamato. In truth, the Montanas were a completely new design, with heavier armor and upgraded secondary armament. At the time, U.S. intelligence lacked precise information on the Yamato, and the Montanas’ size didn’t actually violate canal limits—though clearance under the Brooklyn Bridge near the New York Navy Yard was a genuine concern.
The Montana-class battleships represent both the peak and the twilight of the battleship era. Their cancellation wasn’t a failure of engineering or ambition, but a recognition that naval warfare had moved in a new direction. By shifting focus to aircraft carriers, the Navy adapted to an evolving battlefield, ensuring strategic advantage for decades to come. The Montanas remain a compelling “what might have been,” a reminder that even the most powerful weapons can be reshaped by technology, strategy, and the changing face of war.