It's a shame we didn't keep the Alaska's operational along side the Iowa's.I'd guess a G3 and whatever gets built instead of a KGV. Improved Lion class maybe? There was a version planned with 12x16 inch guns like the Montana. Maybe one of those paper ships from world of warships
Interesting to speculate what the 1930s would bring in the wake of an arms escalation. I'd guess 18 inch guns become standard as the big navies all had prototypes, and its a fair point carriers may develop less if more money goes into guns.
Cruisers would be interesting too, Japan and the US had some powerful ships planned but I think only a handful of Alaskas were used
The Alaskas were the last battlecruisers - even though they were never classified as battlecruisers - and too expensive to keep.It's a shame we didn't keep the Alaska's operational along side the Iowa's.
They would have made great cruise missile and AA missile platforms, similar to the Cleveland's that were converted to the Albany class guided missile cruisers.
I'd guess a G3 and whatever gets built instead of a KGV. Improved Lion class maybe? There was a version planned with 12x16 inch guns like the Montana. Maybe one of those paper ships from world of warships
Interesting to speculate what the 1930s would bring in the wake of an arms escalation. I'd guess 18 inch guns become standard as the big navies all had prototypes, and its a fair point carriers may develop less if more money goes into guns.
Cruisers would be interesting too, Japan and the US had some powerful ships planned but I think only a handful of Alaskas were used
Battlecruisers are defined by battleship peer armament. 12" guns were no longer modern battleship armament when the Alaskas were designed. The Alaskas are where armored cruiser trends were going before the battlecruiser cut off that line of development. So, if we're being honest with ourselves, are the Deutschlands and Scharnhorsts. Even the Germans hadn't considered 11" guns an acceptable battleship armament since the Helgolands. I mean, they were being honest with the Deutschlands, it was British propaganda that upsold them because treaty heavy cruisers weren't fit for purpose. The Scharnhorsts were just delusional.The Alaskas were the last battlecruisers - even though they were never classified as battlecruisers - and too expensive to keep.
All the expense and crew of a battleship without the ability to fight one on even terms. I could see the US keeping some of the older fast battleships instead.
could be, if I recall Britain was looking at 9.2 inch guns on projected cruisers, Germany had 11inch guns on their cruiser killers (like the planned P-class) Japan had a 12 inch design, yeah, I guess battlecruisers were about to make a returnSpeaking of cruisers - if we have battleships with 18-20 inch guns,then heavy cruisers could have 10-11 inch guns.Something like german pocket battleships for all navies.
Yeah that's the one I think, must have been quite a clenching moment launching something from there
I'd have liked to see this one built, one of the original designs for Yamato
would have used diesel engines too hence no big funnel. Very interesting take
possible but perhaps not useful, at that point something like an Atlanta or Dido light cruiser would be a better investment. Big problem with destroyers is they are pretty unstable gun platforms and too small to mount good gun directors (or radar later)With bigger battleships and cruisers - it would be probable more big destroyers,too.Like french with 138mm and german with 150mm guns.
Can be debated until the cows come home.Battlecruisers are defined by battleship peer armament.
What he said.This makes it difficult for destroyers to hit things unless at close range, and if up close better to have lots of smaller faster loading guns
How would you rate the Hipper's?I'd say the Alaska was more of a Battlecruiser than actual battlecruisers
Originally the concept was for the ships to be evolved armoured cruisers with 9.2 inch guns which would have been perfectly good. They outgunned the best of the armoured cruisers and would have enjoyed superior speed too. But Jackie 'speed' Fisher had them upgunned to 12 inch guns mostly because he really wanted a to hammer home his own theories.
Initially there was a lot of opposition to this with Jellicoe in particular vehemently hating the idea. Bigger guns meant a bigger ship, which meant a more expensive ship, which meant fewer ships. Jellicoe wanted more smaller ships which could do their primary job as cruiser hunters and heavy scouts but wouldn't have the power to tempt commanders to duel battleships. Oops.
Even after battlecruisers became a thing Jellicoe kept pushing for this new ship design above a heavy cruiser but less than a battlecruiser but it never went anywhere. It does however show a niche which you could argue the Alaska fits into, or an Azuma, maybe a Scheer which would n truth be the originally battlecruiser idea before Fisher got his mitts on it
Now,, where is that emoticon ...How would you rate the Hipper's?
I'm just thinking, could the Hipper's qualify as battlecruisers, or are they just old style heavy cruisers with a bit more armor and speed?Now,, where is that emoticon ...
Below average, breakdown prone heavy cruisers?
On that tonnage other navies better and/or more reliable ships.
The latter.could the Hipper's qualify as battlecruisers, or are they just old style heavy cruisers
I'd agree with Buba and say they were at the upper end of a heavy cruiser. They compare quite well with the American Baltimore and are a little below the Des Moines which I'd say were the best of the bestHow would you rate the Hipper's?
They had pretty good guns and speed, but are just seen as heavy cruisers most of the time.
Repairs to the Gneisenau were to be combined with rearming to 3x2x38cm. There were some problems with this.
But not exactly small - S&G were slightly bigger than e.g. the QE class or the Standards - which shows that speed costs ...
This, as well as the 3x28cm jobbies were more or less off the shelf, whereas 2x35 or 2x38 would have to be designed first. Which takes years ...I read,that initially they would get 3-2-35cm,but Hitler vetoed it becouse he do not wonted provoke England.