Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:12:15-2:14:23

Why the United States would not build Design D for Stalin

Political distrust, scarce US building slips, competing Essex construction, and uncertainty about the Soviet relationship outweigh the design's potential.

16-inch GunsAlternate HistoryBattleship DesignEssex Class Aircraft CarriersGibbs And Cox Design DSoviet NavyUS ShipbuildingWorld Of Warships
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Question

What arguments would oppose building the Gibbs and Cox Design D battleship for the Soviet Union?

Short answer

Political distrust, scarce US building slips, competing Essex construction, and uncertainty about the Soviet relationship outweigh the design's potential.

Notes

The World of Warships prompt refers to the real Gibbs and Cox Design D proposal. Its ten 16-inch guns are arranged in two triple turrets and one quadruple turret, with the quadruple mounting drawing particular criticism. One suggestion is that replacing it with a triple would produce a more attractive design. The larger objection concerns giving a major capital ship to a country whose future relationship with the United States was uncertain. The Soviet Union is described as unable to build the vessel itself, while a suitable American building slip could instead support Essex-class carrier construction.