USS Illinois (BB-65)

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USS Illinois (hull number BB-65) was an uncompleted Iowa-class fast battleship, the fifth of her type laid down for the United States Navy during World War II. The Navy had initially planned on building four of the Iowas and then developing a new, more powerful ship for what was to be BB-65. The pressing need for more warships at the outbreak of World War II in Europe led the Navy to conclude that new designs would have to be placed on hold to allow the shipbuilding industry to standardize on a small number of designs. As a result, BB-65 was ordered to the Iowa design in 1940. Illinois was laid down in December 1942, but work was given a low priority, and was still under construction at the end of World War II. In August 1945 construction was canceled, the hull then remained as a parts hulk until it was broken up in 1958.

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