I don't know if this has been asked before... But why didn't the Japanese consider, potentially, removing one of the 14" turrets amidships on these ships and investing into more powerful machinery to make them into a truly fast battleships that could operate with Kongos and carriers? This would have given them 8 fast 14" ships and more operational flexibility for the loss of 4 14" turrets. They also had the added benefit, compared to Kongos, of being much better armoured - potentially surving the encounter with the 8" heavy cruisers at Guadalcanal that contributed to the loss of the Hiei.
statistics: Posted by Argosy24 — 12:11 PM - Today — Replies 10 — Views 168