Delaware-class battleship

USS North Dakota, the second ship of the class
Class overview
Name:	Delaware-class battleship
Builders:	Newport News Shipbuilding Fore River Shipyard
Operators:	United States
Preceded by:	South Carolina class
Succeeded by:	Florida class
In commission:	1910–1923
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Retired:	2
Preserved:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Battleship
Displacement:	20,380 long tons (20,707 t) (standard) 22,400 long tons (22,759 t) (full load)
Length:	518 ft 9 in (158 m) (overall) 510 ft (155 m) (waterline)
Beam:	85 ft 3 in (26 m)
Draft:	27 ft 3 in (8 m) (mean) 28 ft 10 in (9 m) (max)
Propulsion:	2 × sets Vertical triple expansion Delaware Curtis Steam turbines North Dakota 2 × screws
Speed:	21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h)
Range:	6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement:	933 officers and men
Armament:	10 × 12 in (305 mm)/45 caliber Mark 5 guns 14 × 5 in (127 mm)/50 cal Mark 6 guns 2 × 3-pounder 47 mm (1.85 in)/40 cal guns 4 × 1-pounder 37 mm (1.46 in) guns 2 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (submerged)
Armor:	Belt: 9–11 in (229–279 mm) Lower casemate: 8–10 in (203–254 mm) Upper casemate: 5 in (127 mm) Barbettes: 4–10 in (102–254 mm) Turret face: 12 in (305 mm) Conning tower: 11.5 in (292 mm) Decks: 2 in (51 mm)

The Delaware-class battleships of the United States Navy were the second class of American dreadnoughts. With this class, the 16,000 long tons (16,257 t) limit imposed on capital ships by the United States Congress was waived, which allowed designers at the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair to correct what they considered flaws in the preceding South Carolina class and produce ships not only more powerful but also more effective and rounded overall. Launched in 1909, these ships became the first in US naval history to exceed 20,000 long tons (20,321 t).

The Delawares carried a battery of ten 12-inch (305 mm) guns in five turrets, an increase of two guns over the South Carolinas. With these ships, the US Navy re-adopted a full-fledged medium-caliber weapon for anti-torpedo boat defense. While the 5-inch (127 mm) gun was smaller than that used by other major navies, this would, with few exceptions, become the standard medium-gun caliber for the US Navy for the better part of the 20th century. As for speed, the Delawares were capable of 21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h), a significant improvement over the earlier class's 18.5 kn (21 mph; 34 km/h). This would become the speed for all American standard-type battleships. Propulsion systems were mixed; while North Dakota was fitted with steam turbines, Delaware retained triple-expansion engines. US turbines at this point did not give great advantages in output or speed over triple-expansion systems, as turbine manufacturers in the US still faced great engineering difficulties. Turbines were also much less fuel-efficient, a significant concern for a Navy with Pacific responsibilities but lacking Britain's extensive network of coaling stations.