A Japanese fleet of twelve-inch large cruisers

What if Japan built a fleet of twelve-inch large cruisers before the Pacific War?

They could strengthen cruiser battles and carrier escorts, but would add logistical problems and are not judged capable of winning the wider war.

A Japanese force of 12-inch-gun ships in the 1930s would be less powerful individually than the largest battleships. In sufficient numbers, however, it could add substantial cumulative strength to cruiser engagements. It could also improve Japan's carrier escorts. The additional ships would create logistical demands. In this assessment, those gains would still leave Japan unable to win once it entered the wider Pacific War.