1934- As part of a WPA project, East coast drydocks expansion begins. Expected to take 5 years, the finished expansion will be able to build far heavier ships than allowed by the treaty, only the true extent is left unmentioned to anyone outside of President Roosevelt.
1935-6- As the year closes out, Naval designers begin on the Montana and Iowa class battleships. The Navy also begins the infrastructure expansion as the drydock expansion program enters the final phase. This expansion is assisted by the Panay incident in China. Congress agrees to a massive 5 billion dollar Naval budget increase, also voting to effectively nullify the WNT.
Elsewhere, the Japanese begin construction on Yamato as Britain nervously eyes both America and Germany.
1937- The first Montana design comes out; it is a weird one.
7 triple turrets in a fore and aft configuration [abcd and wxy] of 17"/76 caliber shell size. A proposed secondary battery of six 8" surface triple turrets and 90 light/ 30 medium AA dual purpose guns.
Powerplant would be [Redacted].
Armor for the Montana "1776" would be [redacted]
Three 1776s would be approved. The preparation for building starting in the last quarter of the year. The proposed weapons and engines were also embarked upon in the preparation process; it should be noted that naval building was a bit behind so despite the normal way of making sure weapons and engines were pre-built, it was not the case here.
The Iowa class was significantly smaller with only an ab and y configuration, or 3 turrets of 16"/50 caliber. Two of these would begin in Boston the next year.
1938- Industrial expansion within vicinity of naval yards reaches an all time high as steel machining facilities require more and more workers. Weapon factories are encouraged to expand under the guise of an extended WPA program.
In short, 1938 was the year of keels;
Montana was laid on March, 1938, while unknowingly, the keel for the Yamato was laid in November. The North Dakota and South Dakota [The Montanas would cause the SoDak class to be cancelled] were laid in October.
1939- More Mines were opened or expanded where possible. Publication of economic figures was allowed, but specifics could not be mentioned. Unemployment was quite low as Europe geared for war.
Two of the old Standards would be taken for scrapping; the Maryland and West Virginia. The names would be put on the list for the Montana class ships while Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana and New Jersey were reserved for the Iowas.
The so-called Pocket battleship makes the debute as Germany trumpets the completion of the Scharnhorst.
From an American perspective, European War #3 starts, and Neutrality is declared.
1940- The engine assemblies were lowered into the hull and properly intertwined with the 4 main shafts being installed afterward and the two outboard shafts installed after that. Each of the six power plants put out 90k shp; the largest plants ever produced. The two outermost screws were mounted significantly forward of the stern, resulting in an odd keel design.
Later in the year, the engineering and fuel spaces would be completed, and the citadel would take shape followed by the main weapon spaces, followed by the Main deck. Work also started on the structure where possible.
1941- The Montana main superstructure was completed, work was mostly centered around the massive amount of connections for radar, communication, engineering, weapons, lights and piping. Unseen by those who worked on the leviathan, a semblance of a spirit began to coalesce as the ship came together.
Iowa and Missouri are launched, New Jersey and Wisconsin are laid.
Yamato is launched, rumors swirl for intel offices of most navies.
Bismark remains in Germany, enabling Hood to be refit in America, post Mers-al Kebir.
1942
-------------------------------------------------
The ghostly essence looked out over the dock she was in, spying the giant banner on the wall. "U.S.S. Montana. Is that what I'm called?"
[Gigantic Titanic of a snip]
20XX
We need you're help, please come back.
"Do you?"
You were the most famous of our ships, the most powerful on the sea.
"I see, very well."
Come to the light.
"We shall come then."
----------------------
"Sir, the entire supply of STS just disappeared."
"Even from storage?"
"Yep."
"Crap." He vocalized as three distinct shapes materialized in the water.
"ALL HANDS TO YOUR STATIONS!"
The foot falls of the new summons caused the building shiver, out of the gloom appeared three females. Battleships.
Not just any battleships, but the ones remembered for poking holes in two nations.
"Report, Sailors!"
The three stiffened as the redhead took charge, "Sir! U.S.S. Montana-"
"-U.S.S. North Dakota-"
"-and U.S.S. South Dakota-"
"-reporting for duty Sir!"
"Welcome to Sasebo Naval base-"
Three battleship grade supply rooms howled in desperation, and all three clutched their middles, "Ugh. Mess hall please?"
"Follow Yamashiro."
----------------
The mess hall, also known as the cafeteria or galley; was the largest single level building on the immediate portion of the base. The time of day was around the smaller ship classes feeding time, except that there was panic in the kitchen staff today as three of the largest battleships ever built approached.
----
Tenryuu wondered what the hold up was for the breakfast line to open, but did not expect to find the answer in the form of the mess hall doors opening as three people she'd never seen before just... cut in front of her without noticing.
As if on cue, the barrier retracted and Tenryuu had to stare, battleships, no... super-battleships. The realization turned her impending ire into fear as she followed the new summons in their wake and noticed the cooking staff desperately trying to get more breakfast ready.
"Hey, you three, leave some for the rest of us will you?"
The blonde turned to regard the shorter cruiser, but couldn't talk with her mouth full, so just shrugged in reply.
Eventually, the three food mountains moved to a table in the corner and sat down to eat. Sadly, whatever their wishes were, they would not remain isolated for long.
Montana glanced up at the light cruiser who'd parked herself and the cadre of destroyers at the next table over. "Hi."
Tenryuu nodded, "So, new summons eh?" She'd seen battleships and their food before, but super-battleships were on another level.
"Yesh." Montana swallowed what remained in her mouth, then continued, "Sorry, U.S.S. Montana, North and South Dakota." The redhead moved her hand to indicate her sisters and herself in introduction.
"Tenryuu, Leyte Gulf?"
"I was sunk by that point-"
The cafeteria doors opened again, along with a voice. "I, Musashi, have arrived to dine!"
Montana froze a moment before moving over, "North, sit beside me. If she notices me-"
"Right." While North Dakota completed the odd sounding request in Tenryuu's ears, the other Dakota answered the unspoken question. "Montana sank Musashi in Leyte Gulf, without ever visually seeing her."
"Bloody cloud cover."
"Huh, so that's why..."
A silent nod confirmed Tenryuu's comment.
Meanwhile, the doors opened yet again.
"Oh hell no."
"Scharnhorst." North Dakota stared and wondered what they had done to deserve this.
"Wuh?"
Montana quietly used air drawing in the form of "Y...A...M!"
"Oh-" South Dakota swallowed what she'd been chewing and monitored the reflections in the windows as best she could.
"Ugh, I, Yamato, have been woken up by Musashi-"
"Hey!"
"-to come dine here. I also heard that there were new summons...!" Yamato froze for a moment as she spotted three really large people occupying most of a corner table, but then carried on to the food line where Musashi was finished with supply gathering...
Looking for a place to sit...
In Montana's opinion, this was bad. She was still trying adjust to having a body like a human, and really didn't want any complications on top of that; but it looked like she had no choice.
From Musashi's viewpoint, what she did know was there were three new faces she had never seen before. Cue the second Yamato sister unknowingly setting her tray down diagonal to the object of her past historical destruction.
And Yamato looking like she had bitten into some sour fruit while shuffling toward where her dear sister had parked, sitting at the end of the table.
Eventually, the conversation happened once the supplies were satisfied to a degree.
"So, who are you and where did you fall?"
North Dakota replied, "U.S.S. North Dakota, that's South Dakota, and she is Montana. We three are the Montana class super-battleships, scrapped in the 70s and 80s."
Musashi tilted her head while Yamato simply focused on her food. "Super-battleships you say?" Heedless of the closet she was walking into.
The mess hall door banged open loudly as the resident repair ship walked in with her assistant. "-three massive rigs that needed their own separate carts! No, they try to put all three rigs on ONE cart! Hello? three rigs that weigh 171,000* tons each? Not to mention the odds and..."
All 5 battleships and the cadre of Desdiv 6 froze at the ridiculous figure given. "Question withdrawn. What battles were you in?"
Montana finally spoke, "Leyte Gulf."
The two Yamatos instantly froze up with that, Yamato raising her head to regard Montana. "I watched you-"
Montana nodded, her single green locking with Yamato's gaze. "Yup, that happened-"
"-Seventeen inch turrets with 76 caliber-"
"-tank my shells from under 7,000 meters." Yamato pinned her killer with her gaze, continuing despite the Dakotas attempts at dereailment. "I watched as Musashi's shells failed against you-"
"Wait! Wha-"
"-they failed to damage you as they should have!"
Montana glared at Yamato, "I was brand new, that was first real battle. I was just as shocked when my guns tore through your armor like it wasn't there! That wasn't a battle Yamato, it was a desperate struggle to survive! I did not know just how badly my fire would maul you. My crews were terrified that we'd come out of the fog so close to you. 5,000 or so yards or so is suicide melee range for us somewhat modern battleships. You can't blame me entirely for what happened. Neither of us used our radars till we sighted each other, so seeing another capital ship so close and personal like that. Your crew panicked just as badly as mine did, but my 7 beat your three and that's a done deal."
"EXCUSE ME!" Musashi roared, glaring at Montana, "So that was you then who sank me without ever seeing me?"
"Yes, it was; and if you try to start something here, my sisters might have to interject. Yes?"
The three sisters grinned toothily and Musashi wilted under their gaze. "....Fine."
Slowly, the quintette of battleships finished off their breakfasts.
"Any recent summons, please come to the Admiral's office after your initial resupply has been dealt with, thank you."
"Well, I'm guessing that means us."
-----------------------
The three sisters entered the outer office of the admiral only to stop as Montana froze up in her tracks again.
"Come on sis, not this again." North Dakota grimaced as she looked at the secretary-who was also a ship- and would've greeted her, but for the same expression.
"...Nagato, are the new summons her- Oh there you are. Hey Nagato?" The admiral looked questionably at the newcomers, "I'm likely going to regret this, but by chance, did one of you meet her during the war?"
Both Dakotas pointed at the redhead in the room silently.
"Ah. Urk!" The admiral might have attempted to return to his office, but was arrested by his secretary latching onto his shoulder.
"I'm sorry sir, but can we conduct this here instead?"
"Erm, let me guess, Leyte Gulf?"
All the ships nodded with Nagato providing a "Yes." in verbal confirmation.
"Hoo boy."
-----------------------
"Now see here, I had no desire to sink you if I could avoid it. My crew chose that option-"
"You tore me apart then executed me with your trickery!"
"Trickery?!"
"Now hold on sister." South Dakota interrupted, and finally garnered their attention. "Nagato, we had this same discussion with both Yamatos earlier in the mess hall. The circumstances were beyond any of us to completely control."
" I remember that I saluted you just before you sank, and I was not happy with my crew." Montana spoke slowly, "Somehow I had the feeling you were doing the same."
"I-I don't know how to take that..."
"Is it just me or does everyone here seemed to hold some weird issue regarding us Montanas?" North Dakota asked as Mutsu entered the room.
"..." The admiral smiled weakly as yet more stuff surrounding the new summons played out.
---------------------------
Far away in Kiel, three blondes sneezed at once. "Someone must be talking about us."
"Ja."
==========================
* A rough estimate.