Driftless
Donor
I'm going to go ahead and stick my face into the whirling fan......
Here's the challenge: create a different (and hopefully more useful) alternative to the historic USS Alaska's. The POD, is that post-Munich 1938, the US decides as part of an earlier naval build-up, (screw the London Naval Treaty) they too are going to build a panzerschiffe/cruiser killer, that can also run with the US Carriers. So, there's an opportunity for a somewhat different purpose and two years earlier start.
One thought I had was US naval architects and admirals getting a good look at the Dunkerque's and using the armament and armor layout concepts as a starting point. The marvelous 12'/50 Mk8's of the Alaska's would not be available yet for several years, so what alternative armament might be selected? If they're also going to be used as scouts/consorts for the Carriers, a hefty AA suite would be required (hefty by pre-war standards)
Of course, "They're all white elephants!!!!", you say. But the US ordered six Alaskas in late 1940 and actually commissioned two late in the war, so something along those lines was going to be built.....,
Just come up with something better and earlier.
Here's the challenge: create a different (and hopefully more useful) alternative to the historic USS Alaska's. The POD, is that post-Munich 1938, the US decides as part of an earlier naval build-up, (screw the London Naval Treaty) they too are going to build a panzerschiffe/cruiser killer, that can also run with the US Carriers. So, there's an opportunity for a somewhat different purpose and two years earlier start.
One thought I had was US naval architects and admirals getting a good look at the Dunkerque's and using the armament and armor layout concepts as a starting point. The marvelous 12'/50 Mk8's of the Alaska's would not be available yet for several years, so what alternative armament might be selected? If they're also going to be used as scouts/consorts for the Carriers, a hefty AA suite would be required (hefty by pre-war standards)
Of course, "They're all white elephants!!!!", you say. But the US ordered six Alaskas in late 1940 and actually commissioned two late in the war, so something along those lines was going to be built.....,
Just come up with something better and earlier.
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