How would the West respond if the Soviet Union commissioned several battleship squadrons in 1950?
Short answerThe United States would likely complete Illinois and Kentucky, Britain would revive Super Lion work, and Western navies would retain or finish more battleships alongside carriers.
NotesThe response would begin before the Soviet ships commissioned because their construction would be visible. With Iowa hulls still extant, Vanguard recently completed, and design staffs still available, Western powers could react by finishing ships and forming combined battleship-carrier groups rather than starting from nothing.