Photo #: S-584-149 Preliminary Design Plan for a "Small Battleship" ... April 16, 1919 Preliminary design plan for a "Small Battleship" (F-3). The Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair requested on 8 March 1919 that his staff develop a set of comparative studies for ships of this type, apparently reflecting his desire to anticipate a possible need, as early as the 1920 shipbuilding program, for retrenchment from the large capital ship designs under development at the time. The "F" series Small Battleship designs, initiated on 10 April, were modifications of the 20-knot "A" series (see Photo # S-584-150), with speed lowered to reduce size. The concept was not pursued. This plan provided four 16-inch guns, electric drive machinery, and a speed of 18 knots in a ship 500 feet long on the waterline, 87 feet 3 inches in beam, and with a normal displacement of 21,500 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: 367KB; 2475 x 1085 pixels