A British move beyond treaty cruisers could have pushed the United States to accelerate what became the Alaska class. Earlier availability would matter operationally because large fast cruisers with 12-inch guns might then have entered the battles around Guadalcanal. In this counterfactual, one navy's procurement decision changes another navy's schedule and puts a new capability into an earlier campaign. The scenario does not place Alaska-class ships in the historical Guadalcanal campaign.
Notable Point · 50:53-51:12
An accelerated Alaska class could reach the Guadalcanal campaign
British 9.2-inch cruiser construction might have accelerated the American Alaska programme enough to put 12-inch-gun large cruisers into early Pacific fighting.