Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:09:55-5:14:22

Revealing Yamato's 18-inch guns changes US deployment

If Japan publicly revealed Yamato's 18-inch guns at Pearl Harbor, political and operational pressure would send America's newest battleships to the Pacific.

Naval IntelligenceNorth Carolina Class BattleshipsPacific WarSouth Dakota Class Battleships (1939)Yamato Class Battleships
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

Could the US Navy ignore the Atlantic and send its new battleships to the Pacific in 1942?

Short answer

Yes, if Japan revealed Yamato's 18-inch guns; that threat would push North Carolina, Washington, and perhaps early South Dakotas toward the Pacific.

Notes

Disclosure of Yamato's true armament offers the clearest route to keeping North Carolina and Washington out of the Atlantic. Both were commissioned early enough to work up for Pacific service. South Dakota and Indiana might follow as rapidly as they became available because their speed let the new classes operate together. The United States would want modern battleships able to keep up with carrier forces and block two 18-inch-gunned Japanese ships if they broke through the air screen.