The USS Colorado (BB-48) was a United States Navy battleship and the lead ship of her class. She was laid down on May 29, 1919; launched on March 22, 1921; and commissioned on January 7, 1923. Ships of this class were the last American battleships ordered during World War I and completed prior to the Washington Naval Treaty. After entering service, the Colorado embarked on a nearly year-long cruise. During this voyage, the battleship visited Great Britain, France, Italy, and the Royal Navy's naval base in Gibraltar before returning to New York. Afterward, the ship underwent repairs, completed her trials, and transferred to San Francisco to join the Battle Fleet operating in the Pacific. During the interwar period, the ship primarily participated in exercises and underwent modernization as she was beginning to show signs of obsolescence. In the summer of 1937, she served as a training ship for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.

She was assigned to Pearl Harbor on January 27, 1941. She did not participate in the defense during the Japanese attack on December 7 because she was undergoing drydock repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. She actively participated in the bombardment of coastal fortifications during subsequent combat operations, including the invasion of Tarawa Atoll, the Fiji Islands, and the Battle of Kwajalein Atoll. She also took part in the invasions of the Mariana Islands and Midway Atoll and the invasions of Saipan and Okinawa. She earned seven battle stars during the war. Immediately after the war, the Colorado returned to San Francisco. She was then assigned to Pearl Harbor for two more years before being placed in reserve on January 7, 1947. On July 23, 1959, she was sold for scrap.

The USS Colorado was introduced in Update 2.45 "Hornet’s Sting", in its 1942 configuration. This battleship has a powerful main battery, solid armor, and high survivability. However, its rate of fire is low, it is only moderately maneuverable, and its anti-aircraft battery is weak.