Photo #: S-584-132 Preliminary Design for the 1919 Program Battleships ... May 3, 1918 A preliminary design plan for battleships to be built with Fiscal Year 1919 funding. This plan represented the final development of the South Dakota (Battleship # 49) class preliminary design. Compared with the 1917 plan (see Photo # S-584-114), this design reverted to single mounts for the secondary battery but increased their caliber from 5-inch to 6-inch. It was sent -- as "Scheme A"-- to the Secretary of the Navy on 3 June 1918 for comparison with three other designs (see Photos # S-584-133, S-584-134 and S-584-135). The six ships of this class were laid down during 1920-21 but canceled incomplete in 1922. 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, 104 feet 9 inches in beam, and with a normal displacement of 42,500 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: 428KB; 2500 x 1100 pixels