abstract | - USS Kentucky (BB-66) was to be the sixth and final Iowa-class battleship constructed for the United States Navy; she was the second ship to be named in honor of Kentucky. Among the Iowa-class battleships, Kentucky is notable for being the last authorized Iowa-class battleship, and for being the only ship of the class considered for a guided missile rebuild. Hull BB-66 was originally to be the second ship of the Montana-class battleships. However, the U.S. Navy's experiences in World War II led it to conclude that it required more fast battleships to escort the new Essex-class aircraft carriers that were being built. As a result, Kentucky was reordered as an Iowa-class battleship midway through the war. Like her sister ship Illinois, Kentucky was still under construction at the end of hostilities and was caught up in the post-war drawdown of the armed services. Her construction was suspended twice, during which times she served as a spare parts cache of sorts. Kentucky was sold for scrap in 1958 after several failed attempts to have her completed as a guided missile battleship.
- USS Kentucky (BB-66) was an uncompleted battleship originally intended to be the sixth and final member of the Iowa class constructed for the United States Navy. At the time of her construction she was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Kentucky. Hull BB-66 was originally to be the second ship of the Montana class. However, the U.S. Navy's experiences in World War II led it to conclude that it required more fast battleships to escort the new Essex-class aircraft carriers that were being built. As a result, Kentucky was reordered as an Iowa-class battleship midway through the war. Like her sister ship Illinois, Kentucky was still under construction at the end of hostilities and was caught up in the post-war draw-down of the armed services. Her construction was suspended twice, during which times she served as a spare parts cache of sorts. In the 1950s, there were several proposals to complete the ship as a guided missile battleship. These were abandoned primarily due to cost concerns, and Kentucky ultimately was sold for scrap in 1958.
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