US Navy decreasing fleet according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated 1 September 1956

Iowa-class

New Jersey with never realized flight deck

Tennessee-class

An item reported that the US Navy intended to transfer the battleship USS New Jersey (1), escort carrier Siboney (2) and 15 smaller ships to the Reserve Fleet. Further more were 107 ships now part of the Reserve Fleet to be broken up including the battleships USS California (3) and Tennessee (4), 8 heavy and 2 light cruisers, 9 escort and 2 other carriers all aged and so of small value for a future war.

Notes

1. BB-62. Part of Iowa-class battleships preceded by South Dakota-class succeeded by never built Montana-class, building ordered on 1 July 1939, laid down by Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on 16 September 1940, launched on 7 December 1942, first time commissioned on 23 May 1943, stricken on 4 January 1999 and museum ship since 15 October 2001.

2. CVE-112. Part of Commencement Bay-class escort carriers preceded by Casablanca-class, laid down by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, USA as Frosty Bay on 1 April 1944, renamed Siboney on 26 April 194, launched on 9 November 194, commissioned on 14 May 1945, reclassified as AKV-12 on 7 May 1959, stricken on 1 June 1970 and broken up in 1971.

3. BB-44. Part of Tennessee-class battleships preceded by New Mexico-class succeeded by Colorado-class, building ordered on 28 December 1915, laid down by Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, USA on 25 October 1916, launched on 20 November 1919, commissioned on 10 August 1921, decommissioned on 14 Feburary 1947, stricken on 1 March 1959 and broken up.

4. BB-43. Part of Tennessee-class battleships preceded by New Mexico-class succeeded by Colorado-class, building ordered on 28 December 1915, laid down by New York Naval Shipyard on 14 May 1917, launched on 30 April 1919, commissioned on 3 June 1920, decommissioned on 14 february 1947, stricken on 1 March 1959 and broken up.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.