The Colorado class belongs firmly inside pre-treaty American design practice. Designers first proved a new gun in a twin turret and then developed a triple mounting for later classes. Colorado therefore tested the twin 16-inch installation before the next generation adopted triple turrets. Lexington's planned twin turrets fit the same sequence. The progression shows how gun and mounting development could be separated to control technical risk.
Notable Point · 3:40:44-3:41:48
Colorado's twin turrets in US 16-inch gun development
The Colorado class fits an American pattern of proving a new gun in a twin mounting before moving to triple turrets in the next design generation.