What would a new 1945 battlecruiser look like under this definition of the type?
Short answerIt would resemble an enlarged Vanguard with twelve 16-inch guns, about 36 knots, substantial belt and deck armour, and deck-mounted 4.5-inch dual-purpose weapons.
NotesThe design starts from Vanguard but builds a new ship around four triple 16-inch turrets and a target speed of roughly 36 knots. The machinery and magazines receive layered deck protection, with around six inches on both lower and upper armoured decks. A belt of roughly fourteen to fifteen inches protects the vital zone, even if it covers less length than on a slower battleship. By 1945, improved deck-mounted 4.5-inch weapons provide the preferred secondary and antiaircraft battery.