Interesting that the U.S was contemplating 65,000 ton battleships [page 1] in 1939, considering the Japanese were in the process of building the three 72,000 ton battleships YAMATO, MUSHASHI, and SHINANO [converted to an aircraft carrier]. Wonder if the 65,000 tonners would have been equipped with larger than the 16” guns that showed up on the IOWAs.
About the guns. This is one museum that is a MUST SEE for me.
“American’s Cannon Factory”
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/watervliet.htm
http://www.wva.army.mil/Index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watervliet_Arsenal
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/66000503.pdf
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/66000503.pdf
Pic on page three of the first PDF file is must see.