What might a newly designed American battleship of 1951 or 1952 have looked like?
Short answerAn Iowa-derived fast escort would combine large guns where available with missile capacity, adaptable magazines, and helicopter facilities.
NotesThe Iowa class provides the US Navy's successful modern battleship baseline, although a new ship would be internally different. It would still need carrier speed and would use 16-inch guns if the industrial capacity remained, perhaps drawing weapons from existing ships if new manufacture had lapsed. Helicopter facilities and room for missiles would enter the design from the start. Adaptable magazines would matter because the weapon fit was changing faster than the familiar Iowa-like external form.