The launching of the West Virginia BB-48 at Newport News on November 19, 1921 was overshadowed by the Washington Conference and the thought that the new battleship would be scrapped weeks or months later. Even as the ship was sliding down the ways her fate was being decided not far from where the ceremony was taking place. The last of the Colorado class to take to the water she was spared the cutters torch when the agreement was finally signed, but Washington BB-47 was selected for destruction and was sunk as a target.

West Virginia was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 where she was sunk by the Japanese attack, she was out of service until late 1944. After her return she went into the Pacific theatre and fought in many battles against the Japanese. The ship earned 5 battle stars in the short time she was in the Pacific and was scrapped in 1959.