The counterfactual imagines Lexington and Saratoga as carriers escorted by Constellation and another sister retained in battlecruiser form. The high-riding, balanced hull was intended to maintain speed in rough seas, an important Pacific quality. These ships could form mutually supporting carrier and battlecruiser groups. The example shows why navies valued fast heavy escorts able to move with carriers rather than adding another slow battle line.
Notable Point · 3:12:28-3:15:18
Mixed Lexington carrier and battlecruiser task groups
Completing part of the Lexington class as carriers and part as battlecruisers could have created exceptionally fast, mutually supporting Pacific task groups.