Hyperion - Thanks for the feedback. As I said in the OP I based my proposal on the original FFO history - as APOD changes it, then the drivers behind my proposal may change as well.

Taranto has been redone already (see APOD for August 24). 2 Italian battleships destroyed (although Littorio and Vittoria Venito were both absent so escaped damage entirely). How that affects the need for big guns in the Med is down to the APOD team though.

To my mind it reinforces my initial point (no need to build new Battleships, we've got enough), so baring any earlier disasters, there is no need to consider any new building until the Japanese come into play.

Michael