Q&A · 1:43:37-1:44:14

USS Utah's survival could return turrets to Wyoming

If Utah remained available for gunnery training, Wyoming would have a stronger case for regaining turrets and serving as a bombardment ship.

Question

If USS Utah survived Pearl Harbor, would Wyoming be more likely to regain her turrets?

Short answer

Probably, because Utah could cover training while Wyoming returned to a bombardment role, if fuel and need justified it.

Notes

Utah's survival would preserve a dedicated platform for the training role that absorbed much of Wyoming's usefulness. Wyoming would still be an old hull, but it could float, accept its former turrets, and provide naval gunfire support. Whether the conversion paid off would depend on fuel availability and the demand for bombardment ships. The counterfactual therefore links one ship's survival to the opportunity cost of another ship's specialized role.