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I to thought of the German "pocketbattlerships" so I looked up the specs on the Graf Spee.

Graf Spee had 6 x 11" guns; Alaska 9 x 12"
Graf Spee had 8 x 5.9" guns; Alaska 12 X 5" guns
Graf Spee had 6 x 4.1" guns; Alaska nothing comprable

Based on these spec I would have to give the Alaska Class a slight edge based on the Main Gun battery.

The Alaska had about triple the armor of the Graf Spee on the deck and the armor belt and twice the arnor on the turret face. Alaska also has a 6 knot speed advantage over the Graf Spee as well. So in a slugging match the Alaska would have a substantial edge over the Graf Spee, in my opinion

The one advantage that the Graf Spee did have was that it was armed with 8 21" torpedo tubes. However torpedoes don't typically have that much effective range, especially if you are trying to stay out of 12" gun fire.

Regarding a battlecruiser designation I think that the main gun battery of the Alaska Class would fall just short of that catagory as typically a battlecruiser carries battleship guns with out the battleship armor.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

Regarding a battlecruiser designation I think that the main gun battery of the Alaska Class would fall just short of that catagory as typically a battlecruiser carries battleship guns with out the battleship armor.

The Alaska and Guam were indeed superior to the Graf Spee. As for being a battle cruiser, it is arguable if not clear. Your case of the main armament being less than contemporary battleship keels being laid is well taken, but there were still many old battleships then in service with main armament similar to the Alaska's. The desire by some to call them battle cruisers rests on their large (if not 15-16") guns and their fantastic speed. What this analysis leaves out is their excellent armor, which for a 16" gunned BB would have made it a battle cruiser, but for 12" guns made them well balanced.

It is my opinion that their 12 inch guns, comparable armor, and excellent speed made them fast battleships. Remember that it is not just the diameter of the gun, but its caliber. These 12" rifles were superior to most earlier 14" guns in range. Had they appeared in 1914 they would have been the best "heavy battleships" in the world. Coming on the scene toward the end of WWII, they were light fast battleships.

You put your finger exactly on Alaska's design goals. German and Japanese versions of Panzerschiffe were her designed meat and potatoes.

Good to see us back on the history track. Am thinking about an 1861 - '65 piece. Hard for me to write except on the level of manic particulars!!

Hmm, maybe something starting about the time The Iron Brigade arrived at Gettysburg?

Been looking at Robert Edward Lee's movement into Pennsylvania from a logistics viewpoint. That mess is hard to understand. Right now to me the events leading to Gettysburg look irresponsible. I do not believe Stonewall would have allowed it. Now there was a man who understood logistics! General Jackson was a true master of time and distance. The harder and longer I look at the Valley in the spring of '62 the more impressed I am. Compared to Jackson Napoleon looks like an amateur.

I speak well of the Grey and Blue with all respect for my deceased relatives who wore both Blue and Grey. While Jackson was a master of the Operational Art it was Ulysses S. Grant who put his finger right on the Confederate jugular (actually carotid artery, heh heh) with forts Donelson and Henry. The amazing Bedford Forrest saw this plainly and analyzed the situation and ramifications right from the front line and as far as I can see did so instantly.

Grant's crossing of the Mississippi and investment of Vicksburg was as brilliant (on all levels of war) as anything I know of. Grant is seen as fundamentally the butcher of Cold Harbor only by idiots. Another long story!!!