Alaska's procurement case weakened as its completion date slipped

Should the United States have built the Alaska class during the Second World War?

The original case was defensible, but once completion slipped, the resources would have been better used on the final two Iowa-class battleships.

The ships should be judged against what planners expected when they were ordered and against the war as it ultimately developed. Alaskas available on their intended schedule had a plausible role against enemy cruisers and fast surface threats. Delayed completion reduced that value because the operational problem and available alternatives had changed. With hindsight, redirecting the resources toward the last two Iowa-class battleships would have been preferable, showing how procurement value depends on delivery timing as well as design quality.