A faster successor offers a plausible American answer to the next design problem without treating the historical Montana as inadequate for its intended job. Once Essex-class carriers appeared in large numbers, the next capital ship would logically be designed for their task forces rather than for a separate battle line. Even after learning about Yamato, the United States might retain twelve 16-inch guns but combine them with Iowa-class speed. Carrier operations changed the speed requirement: the battleship had to speed up instead of forcing the carrier to slow after air operations, as British experience with the King George V class demonstrated.
Chapter · 1:26:54-1:29:35
A faster successor for carrier cooperation
The closing considers a plausible successor: preserve Montana’s twelve 16-inch guns but give it Iowa-class speed so it can cooperate with carrier operations.