Trading Alaska's 12-inch guns for torpedo defence

Replacing Alaska's 12-inch battery with 9.2- or 10-inch guns could free enough weight and internal volume for better underwater protection, though designers might spend the saving on another turret instead.

Question

Could Alaska carry a torpedo-defence system if armed with 9.2- or 10-inch guns?

Short answer

Probably, if the weight and space savings were used for protection rather than an additional turret.

Notes

Smaller weapons reduce turret, barbette, ammunition, and structural demands as well as gun weight. Those savings could support a torpedo-defence system that the historical ship lacked. The panel cautions that designers might instead add a fourth triple turret, consuming much of the margin and preserving the ship's offensive emphasis. Because Alaska was not protected against her own 12-inch gun, downsizing also would not automatically unlock a simple armour-belt reduction.