Photo #: S-584-152 Preliminary Design Plan for a "Small Battleship" ... April 21, 1919 Preliminary design plan for a "Small Battleship" (B-5). 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 early need for retrenchment from increasingly large capital ship designs under development at the time. The "B" series Small Battleship designs, initiated on 17 March, incorporated the four 16-inch gun armament and 12 inch side armor specified as an initial baseline for the type but had higher speed than the "A" series (see Photo # S-584-150). The concept was not pursued. This plan provided four 16-inch guns, electric drive machinery, and a speed of 23 knots in a ship 570 feet long on the waterline, 94 feet in beam, and with a normal displacement of 28,500 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; 2500 x 1100 pixels