Definitions for "USS Maine"
Keywords:  navy, battleship, honor, ship, ssbn
Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Maine, named for the 23rd state.
Building of a Montana-class battleship to be named USS Maine (BB-69) in honor of the 23rd state was authorized July 19, 1940, and assigned to the New York Navy Yard; but, before her keel was laid, construction was canceled July 21, 1943. Maine would have been the third ship to bear that name had she been commissioned.
USS Maine (ACR-1), the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the state of Maine, was a 6682-ton second-class pre-dreadnought battleship originally designated as Armored Cruiser #1. Maine and Texas were unusual in that their armament was mounted en echelon, projected off to either side (Maine's forward turret was off to starboard and her aft turret to port; the arrangement was reversed on Texas). This severely limited their ability to fire on a broadside.