USN WWII Battleships characteristics if true IJN Yamato Class details were known at the onset of war

[EwenS]

Ironically, if the true details of the Yamatos were known or leaked early enough, it's possible the Iowas might have been hastily repurposed as replies and built in the slow version initially contemplated, 12x 16 inch and 27 knots on 45,000 tons. They would be less useful and probably more oil guzzling as carrier escorts during the war since they are as slow as the other new treaty BBs so everybody has to slow down to keep with them while they have to stay closer to their max speeds.

Lets face it 27 knots wasn't a problem in carrier operations in WW2. Both the North Carolinas and South Dakotas were able to operate successfully as carrier escorts. Just because carriers were capable of travelling at 33 knots everyone thinks that was what they did. They didn't.

From 1943 the multiple carrier Task Groups were operating in the 15-25 knot speed bracket. The whole group speeded up or slowed down as one. On the rare occasions that a carrier might need to operate faster than its group (for example operating its aircraft outwith a normal TG cycle), it was all about positioning itself as far downwind within the rings of escorts, a quick burst of speed to do what it had to always staying with the escort ring, and return to its original position in the formation and going back to the TG speed.