What would the US Navy do if five mint-condition Alaska-class large cruisers appeared at Norfolk today?
Short answerThe proposed reconstruction keeps the forward heavy guns while adding new propulsion, radar, missiles, close-in weapons, and helicopter provision.
NotesThe question imagines five mint-condition Alaska-class ships arriving at Norfolk. The response proposes a major reconstruction while retaining their forward heavy guns. Suggested changes include gas turbines and electric drive, a version of SPY radar, vertical-launch cells, and close-in weapons. Removing the aft turret would provide space for systems and provision for helicopter operations. Some five-inch guns might also be replaced with three-inch weapons. These are speculative alterations to the imagined arrivals, not a stated Navy modernization program.