A Yamato AHC

30 knot, 45-50,000 ton Yamatos with 16 in L/50 gun seems to be the most useful BB they could have built, not only they would have overwhelmed any treaty BB, but their speed allows them to operate perfectly well with Kido Butai. But to do this, the airminded IJN brass has to have more sway. Ignoring senseless ideas that such a TL can only happen with a POD before Tsushima (you can have a POD whenever you like before the Yamatos are laid down, even in 1937), i recall in another older discussion someone posted his own POD idea of having the more air-minded admirals prevail in the thirties, Yamamoto was one of them i think but i can't recall now other names. But whoever they are, give those admirals more sway in IJN and this can happen. Can also add other ideas like the fully modernized 29kts Nagatos able to operate with these 30kts Yamatos, and 2-3 more fleet carriers by 1942 (say instead of Junyo/Hiyo and one of the seaplane tenders respectively). So in this TL by 1942 Kido Butai would be an utterly formidable force of 8-9 CVs, plus several (and preferably earlier) CVL conversions, supported by 8 fast BBs (4 Kongo, 2 Nagato and 2 Yamato) and many cruisers and DDs.

Regarding the building of these smaller Yamatos, requiring less steel and taking a bit less time to build as well as less drydock work to accomodate them, i einvision them as first pair laid in 1937 and commissioned in 1941, second pair laid in 1939 and 1940 respectively with Shinano commissioned in 1943 while Kii (no.111) either commissions in 1944 or perhaps is converted into a CV 1942-1944 and joins Kido Butai by mid-1944.
A faster, more sensible *Yamato is my ideal.:cool: I'm less sure about air-minded officers gaining the upper hand, but what about an "alliance" of sorts between advocates of this *Yamato & more CV air? End result being your 8 CV/7 fast BB force...:cool: That way, IJN keeps its "decisive battle" doctrine intact. It also creates headaches for USN in WW2....:eek:
 
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