How would the major navies look if the Second World War began in 1945?
Short answerAll fleets would be larger than in 1939, but British and American industrial capacity would make their planned carrier and escort expansion far more achievable.
NotesBritain and America would not reach their historical 1945 wartime size because they would lack six years of emergency mobilization. Their existing yards and supporting industries could nevertheless realize large carrier programs, including British armored carriers and the American Essex class. Britain would also be able to begin the war with many more corvettes and other anti-submarine escorts. Germany, Italy, and Japan would first need to build the infrastructure behind much of their paper expansion, leaving their impressive plans vulnerable to overwhelming Allied production.