Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:43:31-1:44:42

Why an Albany-style missile conversion fits the Alaska class

An Albany-style reconstruction is more plausible for an Alaska than an Iowa because the Alaskas lacked a clear post-war role while the battleships' heavy guns still had recognized value.

Alaska Class Large CruisersAlbany Class Guided Missile CruisersGuided Missile CruisersRIM-2 TerrierRIM-8 Talos
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Question

What if an Iowa or Alaska received an Albany-class missile rebuild and a later NTU modernization?

Short answer

The Alaska is the likelier candidate because her original role was weak and her hull could carry a very large missile battery.

Notes

The conversion would exploit the Alaska class's very large hull for an exceptional missile battery. At the time Albany-class work was being considered, Iowa's guns still supported a distinct surface and bombardment mission, making their removal harder to justify. Alaska had no equally secure role and could therefore become a massive Talos- and Terrier-armed cruiser. Modernization choices depend on the opportunity cost of deleting a ship's existing capability.