Editing Colorado-class battleship (section)

====Anti-aircraft guns====
[[File:USS West Virginia 1944.jpg|thumb|USS ''West Virginia'' in her final configuration, June 1944. Note 5&nbsp;in/38 twin turrets and number of AA guns]]
Four [[3"/23 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|adj=on|0}}/23 caliber gun]]s were mounted initially for [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft (AA) defense]]. This was increased to eight guns in 1922. These guns fired a {{convert|3|in|adj=on}} shell at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|1650|ft/s|m/s}} to a maximum range of {{convert|8800|yd|m}} and ceiling of {{convert|18000|ft|m}} at an elevation of 45.3 degrees and a rate of between eight and nine rounds per minute.{{sfn|DiGiulian 2011 (3"/23)}} These weapons were replaced in 1928–1929 with the same number of [[5"/25 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|adj=on|0}}/25 caliber guns]], the first Navy gun designed specifically for AA use. They fired a {{convert|54|lb|kg|adj=on}} shell at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2155|ft/s|m/s}} at a rate of between 15 and 20 rounds per minute to a maximum range of {{convert|14500|yd|m}} at an elevation of 45 degrees and a ceiling of {{convert|27400|ft|m}} at a maximum elevation of 85 degrees.{{sfn|DiGiulian 2011 (5"/25)}} These weapons were supplemented with quadruple-mount (quad) [[1.1-inch/75-caliber gun]]s in 1937–1938.{{sfn|Breyer|1973|p=230}}

In 1942, the air defense system on these ships was overhauled completely. In addition to their 5&nbsp;in/25s, they carried sixteen [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]]s in quad mounts and up to thirty-two [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]s in single mounts. The quad 40&nbsp;mm Bofors fired a {{convert|1.985|lb|kg|adj=on}} shell at a rate of 120 rounds per minute per barrel nominal, 140 to 160 rounds per minute when horizontal (gravity assist), to a maximum range of {{convert|11133|yd|m}} at 45 degrees and a ceiling of {{convert|22299|ft|m}}. The 20&nbsp;mm Oerlikons fired a {{convert|0.271|lb|kg|adj=on}} shell at an average muzzle velocity of {{convert|2725|ft/s|m/s}} and a practical rate of between 250 and 320 rounds per minute to a maximum range of {{convert|4800|yd|m}} at 45 degrees and a ceiling of {{convert|10000|ft|m}}.{{sfn|Breyer|1973|pp=230–232}}{{sfn|DiGiulian 2011 (40mm)}}{{sfn|DiGiulian 2012 (20mm)}}

A second overhaul of AA defense was made between 1944 and 1945, as the Navy had found 20&nbsp;mm shells too light to stop Japanese ''[[kamikaze]]'' planes; this plus the higher approach speeds of these planes made these manually-controlled guns obsolete. In their place, more quad 40&nbsp;mm Bofors mounts were fitted. ''Maryland'' eventually carried 40{{sfn|McDonald|2023|p=210}} 40&nbsp;mm in 10 quad mountings and 36 20mm in 18 twin mountings{{sfn|McDonald|2023|p=210}} (a different source has her with forty-four 40mm in 11 quad mounts and forty-four 20mm in 20 twin and 1 quad mountings.{{sfn|Sturton|2008|p=217}}) ''Colorado'' had either 32{{sfn|Sturton|2008|p=217}} or 40{{sfn|Breyer|1973|pp=230–232}} 40mm in quad mountings but with 39 single, 8 twin and 1 quad 20mm.{{sfn|Sturton|2008|p=217}} ''West Virginia'' carried forty 40&nbsp;mm in quad mountings and 64 20&nbsp;mm guns in 58 single, one twin and one quad mounting{{sfn|Sturton|2008|p=217}}.{{sfn|Breyer|1973|pp=230–232}}{{sfn|DiGiulian 2011 (40mm)}}{{sfn|DiGiulian 2012 (20mm)}}