jasonfreeland wrote:
I strongly suspect she would have been an operation crossroads target.
While the temptation for the US would have been
unresistible, he states that it does not happen. I have been thinking on these lines myself. I was thinking perhaps either Yamato (or Musashi) returns from Leyte (Samar or the Sibuyan Sea) to Brunei (or Hong Kong, Singapore or other port taken from the Commonwealth) possibly with some moderate but repairable damage. when she/they arrive it is decided that there is not adequate fuel for them to return to Home waters and they languish there for the rest of the war (as with Takao) they end the war in British/French/neutral hands instead of US hands. The Allie/Neutral plans to scrap, but can't get her to an appropriate (large enough) port. After much negotiation Japan secures a return of "their" ship. This would be a plausible "survived" scenario.
The ship/s may also "flee" to Vladivostok before the Russians jump in. this gives a plausible Russian upgrade. (these can also be used for any IJN ship surviving) I thought of a viable US upgrade (as CAG or CLG mods). Retain main turrets, replace center-line 15.5cm triples with Mk11 twin Tartars, strip all 25mms replace upper 12.7cm/40 twins with Mk33 3"/50s, replace lower 12.7/cm/40s with Mk-16 or Mk-42 5"/54s or replace (original side 15.5cm triples - Musashi) with Mk-4 twin Terrier launchers. 4-6 Additional Mk-33s mounted around superstructure in-place of 25mms + 2 additional on fantail with Sea-planes/catapults replaced with helo deck. New ('50-'60s) B/S = 9 (3x3) 46cm, 3 (3x1) Mk-16/42 5"/54, 4 (2x2) Mk-11 Tartar, 14 (7x2) 3"/50. or 9 (3x3) 46cm, 2 (1x2) Mk-4 Terrier, 4 (2x2) Mk-11 Tartar, 14 (7x2) 3"/50.