[DarthVader]

You are right because the Iowa's 16 inchers had a much higher muzzle velocity plus a heavier AP shell than the Brits had on their battlewagons.

The Iowas saw a lot action but unfortunately never had a chance to meet another enemy battleship in combat. Halsey blew his chance at Leyte Gulf when he fell for the Jap deception. Had he fought Kurita at Samar he had the Iowa, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts, Indiana and Washington plus 12 cruisers and 50 tin cans vs Yamato, Nagato, Haruna and Kongo 6 cruisers and 25 tin cans. It would have been the day the Jap navy ceased to exist.

[Cheapskate]

The only possible sving grace for the Japanese would have been what happened with the destroyers.

the long- lance torpedoes were very dangerous weapons.

But in that possible battle, big ship to big ship, We would have won big.