What if an IOWA class battleship had no 16" gun turrets?

[seadude]

I'm starting to get an idea for another possible what if IOWA class battleship model build. But this time, there won't be any 16" gun turrets on it. 
The thinking is: What if all three 16" gun turrets were replaced with VLS cell missile launchers instead?
I'm sure that would create some technical, engineering, and seakeeping challenges. But I'm not too concerned about that. I'd be building this model just for fun. Not necessarily for technical believeability. Below is a pic of a proposed design I had in mind. I'm also thinking of possibly adding a helicopter hangar too, but am not sure where to put it.
Any other thoughts, opinions, and changes?

[kerick]

That could be a lot of cells! I d like to see more.

[seadude]

That could be a lot of cells! I d like to see more.

See more of what? More VLS cells? Or more other options? What I showed in my preliminary pic is just for starters on what I might want for the ship..
64 VLS cells at each original 16" turret position. 192 cells total.

[Rick Lowe]

So still a big puncher, but with missiles rather than gun rounds. Interesting...

[kerick]

I was referring to more of this project. Another question? Will the 5" guns be replaced?

[Rick Lowe]

I was referring to more of this project. Another question? Will the 5" guns be replaced?

Red dots = 5"/54s... 

[Captain Canada]

Cool. Anything that big has to be !

[seadude]

I was referring to more of this project. Another question? Will the 5" guns be replaced?

As for more..........
I'm basing this project off of a few studies that were done back during the 1980's for modernizing the Iowa class. Back then, there were perhaps 8-10 different plans for upgrading the Iowa class battleships. Phase 1 of the Iowa class modernization is what people see now with the Tomahawk ABL's, Harpoon missile launchers, etc. Phase 2 modernization plans were to be more extreme. Things like VLS missile launchers, aft flight deck, helicopter hangars,...........and at least 2 plans called for removal of all gun turrets.
Most modernization information and plans can be found in Garzke & Dulin's "BATTLESHIPS" book, Second Edition, Pages 255-264.

[kerick]

I was referring to more of this project. Another question? Will the 5" guns be replaced?

Red dots = 5"/54s... 

Now I see it!

[seadude]

I've made a slight improvement to my proposed design (shown below). Tell me what you guys think.
I'd really like to have some sort of helicopter hangar on the model and the only thing I could come up with was to extend the port and starboard sides of the aft superstructure (yellow triangles). The bad part is that these port and starboard helo hangars are not that close to the helicopter landing flight deck.
If I do add these superstructure additions, then I'd move the Sea Sparrow launchers (blue dots) further back and place them on the roof of each hangar. Then the space originally occupied the Sea Sparrow launchers would be used for perhaps a 32 cell VLS (one port and one starboard).

[kerick]

Extend the entire superstructure farther aft to create a larger hanger space. Then put more VLS cells on top where the Tomahawks are.

[Rick Lowe]

Makes sense - the rear turret won't be there to get in the way...

[seadude]

Extend the entire superstructure farther aft to create a larger hanger space. Then put more VLS cells on top where the Tomahawks are.

How much farther aft should I go?
The VLS is right where turret #3 is. If I go any further back with extending the aft structure in order to add some sort of helicopter hangar...........and I do mean "IF"...........I would probably build some sort of structure similar to what the Arleigh Burke Flight II destroyers have where their helo hangars are on either side of the aft VLS cluster. I probably wouldn't go any further back aft on my model past the turret #3 spot.

[Gondor]

I agree. Extending the superstructure to encompass the number three turret position and no more sounds good. Plenty of hangar space and still loads of space for a VLS cell.

[kerick]

I was thinking of extending to where the wood deck meets the dark gray flight deck area. That looks to be around the 166 mark on that illustration. Then like you were saying fill the number three position with the VLS. Plenty of room for adjustments. At least that's my $0.02 worth.