Photo #: S-584-106 Preliminary Design Plan for a Battleship ... December 11, 1916 A preliminary design plan (Scheme 3) for a battleship to be funded in Fiscal Year 1918, sent on 21 December 1916 to the General Board. This design followed the Colorado (Battleship # 45) class in layout but incorporated triple 16-inch/50-caliber gun turrets in place of twin 16-inch/45-caliber turrets. A significant increase in length was necessary to incorporate desired characteristics. This design series was the origin of development of the South Dakota (Battleship # 49) class design. Scheme 3 differed from Schemes 1 and 2 in providing an enlarged barbette for Turret 2 forward that housed the ship’s conning tower. This plan provided twelve 16-inch guns, electric drive machinery, and a speed of 23 knots in a ship 660 feet long on the waterline, 105 feet in beam, and with a normal displacement of 41,500 tons. Note: The original document was a blueprint (white on dark blue). The original plan is in the 1911-1925 "Spring Styles Book". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 540KB; 2475 x 1100 pixels