Not really. By 1937, it was pretty well known that the US was planning to build a new set of locks for the Canal that would have allowed bigger ships through. Like the Montana class.I think the whole idea behind the Yamato, was to have a Warship that the US couldn't build one of aa similar size, because it would be too big for the Panama Canal. Making sure that it would have smaller ships to engage - only problem for the IJN how to get a 'hit' with less guns, with a lower rate of fire than your opponent!?
You don't bet on some of the armor being vulnerable to 14" shells.Yep.. Although if the UK had reason to believe that at least some of the armour of the Yamato class might have been vulnerable to 14" shell fire that might have changed their priorities some what ?
That being said I suspect there would have been a lot of pressure within the UK to build a class of battle ships that was seen as a more effective counter to the Yamato class. This might have had some interesting ripple effects.
If nothing else I think it ensures that Britain completes Lion and Temeraire and that Vanguard is a Lion. Britain needs a counter to the Japanese ships and the Lion's are the best they can build fairly quickly.
Well, it was to have a series of such 11 Warships (called the Peace Goddesses), the expectation was that the US/UK would between them build 30-40 new Battleships, and Japan could not match that in quantity, but instead to build ships to overmatch in quality. Yamato and the follow ons (5 Yamato's 2 A150, 4 post A-150), would be able to outmatch their opposite's one on one, after subs, land based air, carrier air and the nighttime torpedo action reduced enemy numbers to parity from slight superiority. They would then be able to do it again after minimal repairs when the US/UK went for round II with their Atlantic forces after the Pacific forces were defeated, and the US/UK would sue for peaceI think the whole idea behind the Yamato, was to have a Warship that the US couldn't build one of aa similar size, because it would be too big for the Panama Canal. Making sure that it would have smaller ships to engage - only problem for the IJN how to get a 'hit' with less guns, with a lower rate of fire than your opponent!?
They were aware that she existed, was 45,000 tons or larger and had guns 16" or bigger. They did not have exact details and until 1945 were describing them as 45,000 tons and 16" armed. Also they were not prepared to rely on the fuel oil thingPurple Cipher was already cracked.
The US were aware of the Yamato.
And they didn't really care because they knew that the IJN would never have enough fuel oil.
In that case they stay with the 16"50 and superheavy AP round and build what they have. It will take several years to come up with a good 18" design, assuming one is to be had. The U.s. had looked at 18" guns several times and the strong belief was that the extra weight was not a useful trade off for a larger number of 16" guns (if one looks at the performance of the 16"/50 with the "super-heavy" AP round vs the 40cm/45 on the Yamato the difference at actual possible engagement ranges largely bears this out. It is of limited utility to have 43K yards of range if you can one engage at 34K.They find out about EVERYTHING(the guns, the armour, the size etc), except for the effectiveness of the Yamato class in practice.
I suppose it depends on what the trade off's are to get a better solution and how much knowledge the UK has.You don't bet on some of the armor being vulnerable to 14" shells.
The United States would make its samples using American quality control, getting results better than the ones on the ships.Problem is Yamato's plate is so @#$% inconsistent. You had one plate tested post war that was thickness for thickness the best the US had ever seen, right next to another at risk from being penetrated by 12" guns. Japanese QC had real issues
Super Heavy shells were already in the pipeline, and given desire for a somewhat balanced ship plus the realities of US obstructionist, 18" gun probably has to wait until BB-65 anyways
It would get more consistent samples, not neccesarily better better, fewer bad ones, but no "best plate thickness for thickness ever tested", as if they could they would have. Of course the US is just likely to test using their own armor, at what they assume is an equivalent thickness, adding or subtracting as neededThe United States would make its samples using American quality control, getting results better than the ones on the ships.
Considering Yamato's cost, might simply building more very fine ships--South Dakotas and Iowas--suffice? If, for each Yamato, there's three Iowas and a piar of Essex class carriers...
Japan was limited by what it could build--the USA prewar was limited by what it would build--and that can change in a heartbeat. The only reason that thre wasn't a three or four ocean navy bill is that there were only two oceans of importance.
A Panama Canal with wider locks will have butterfly effects worldwide...
Thirty to forty fleet carriers with nuclear bombers, even. The fifth Yamato wouldn't be done until at least 1947 and the successors even later.The Americans let them and when the Japanese throw ten Yamato’s or successors at the DECISIVE BATTLE, theyre met by the aircraft of thirty to forty fleet carriers and the survivors sunk by gunfire from the American gunline.