What if, Iowa battleship into aircraft carrier aka Illinois-class carrier

[lordroel]

Jul 26, 2020 14:36:08 GMT francolasto69 said:

Surely an option that could had been taken in case of defeat on Midway .

But it still takes time too produce a carrier and by 1943 they would not need a design like the Illinois-class anymore as they would have enough Essex’s entering into service.

[stevep]

Jul 26, 2020 14:36:08 GMT francolasto69 said:

Surely an option that could had been taken in case of defeat on Midway .

  As lordroel says it would probably be a bad choice but there might be enough of a panic, especially with the Japanese looking so dominant.  OTL 9 Cleveland class cruiser hulls were converted under construction to Independence class CVL and I have seem arguments that this was probably not worthwhile.  The USN would still have enough carrier air power with the Essex class but that won't necessarily be obvious in say mid 42 if most of the existing US CV force have been sunk for minimal Japanese losses.

[lordroel]

Jul 27, 2020 10:44:53 GMT stevep said:

Jul 26, 2020 14:36:08 GMT francolasto69 said:

Surely an option that could had been taken in case of defeat on Midway .

  As lordroel says it would probably be a bad choice but there might be enough of a panic, especially with the Japanese looking so dominant.  OTL 9 Cleveland class cruiser hulls were converted under construction to Independence class CVL and I have seem arguments that this was probably not worthwhile.  The USN would still have enough carrier air power with the Essex class but that won't necessarily be obvious in say mid 42 if most of the existing US CV force have been sunk for minimal Japanese losses.

Could they also build more Saipan-class aircraft carriers which i see are based on the hull of the Baltimore-class cruiser as the Saipan class were designed from the keel up as aircraft carriers, with many improvements based on experience with the Independence class.

[lordroel]

Seems that there is now a YouTube clip about the conversion of the Iowa Class battleships to become aircraft carriers.