In 1911, it was proposed the Navy adopt a 406mm L/40 gun instead of the existing 356mm L/45. This was rejected by Admiral Strauss of the Bureau of Ordonance on the grounds that the existing gun was sufficently effective. However, not much later, Strauss proposed a L/45 version of the 406mm gun, which the General Board accepted, but the Secretary of the Navy, concerned about yet another increase in battleship tonnage, declined. Nevetheless, the design was completed, first test-fired in 1914, and was adopted in the new Maryland class battleships of 1916. Three ships received eight guns each, eight more were build for the unfinished Washington, and a total of eight spares were build as well.