WW II naval plans for the World's Naval Powers

The second navy is the German Kriegsmarine.

(Kriegsmarine) Third Reich

Of special note is the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, which limited Germany's navy to 35% of the Royal Navy for all ship types, with an exception for submarines (aka Germany was allowed to build of each class up to 35% of the Royal Navy's tonnage of that specific class). In regards to submarines, Germany was allowed to have its total submarine tonnage be no more than 45% of the Royal Navy's total submarine tonnage (I think; the wording of paragraph f in the link above is chock full of "legalese" and hard to decipher which "total tonnage" the 45% refers to, the RN's submarine tonnage or its total tonnage). Germany's goals in pursuing the agreement was to get British approval in regards to expanding the German navy and therefore improve relations, and to send a signal to the UK that Germany didn't want to repeat the pre-WW1 naval arms race. The UK's goal with the agreement was to limit Germany to building a "balanced fleet", which the UK felt was much less dangerous and easier to destroy than a Kreuzerkrieg (cruiser war) fleet. The UK felt that a German navy composed entirely of cruisers and submarines would be devastating to the UK and very difficult to defeat, and thus felt it won a victory when Germany agreed to limit construction to 35% of the UK's fleet on a per-class basis.

Germany, ships commissioned in 1936

* 2 Deutschland-class pre-Dreadnought Battleships (despite having the same class-name as the Panzerschiffe, these are actual battleships commissioned in 1908; these old pre-dreadnoughts were hopelessly obsolete when commissioned, let alone in 1936; the Schleswig-Holstein fired the first shots of WW2 by attacking the Polish base at Westerplatte)
* 2 Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe (fancy name for heavy cruisers with 11" guns instead of the 8" guns every other CA used due to treaty limitations, these ships were to be used as commerce raiders)
* 3 K-class light cruisers
* 1 Emden-class light cruiser
* 1 Leipzig-class light cruiser
* 1 Nürnberg-class light cruiser
* 12 Möwe-class heavy torpedo boats (these ships were the size of destroyers but armed exclusively with AA guns, mines, and torpedoes; these are the destroyers in the 1936 OOB)
* 8 Type IIB-class submarines (the Type IIs were coastal subs)
* 6 Type IIA-class submarines

Germany, ships launched by 1936: 

* 1 Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe
* 4 1934-class Destroyers
* 10 Type IIB-class submarines
* 2 Type I-class submarines (ocean-going subs)

Even before the rise of Hitler and the NSDAP, Germany was considering attempt to rearm its navy in violation of Versailles. In 1932, Reichswehrminister Wilhelm Groener presented a plan to build a carrier, expand Germany's destroyer force (which didn't exist at the time), and establish naval aviation and submarine arms for the Reichsmarine. To this end, after WW1 the Weimar Republic created a dummy Dutch firm known as NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw, which designed, built, and sold submarines to Turkey, Finland, the USSR, and Spain. IvS also designed the Scharnhort-class ships and their Dutch equivalent, the Design 1047-class battlecruiser. The Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were designed shortly after the NSDAP coming to power and after the 1934 Build Plan below was created. The Anglo-German Naval Agreement was critical to Germany in part due to the fact that the Scharnhorst was already under construction, and Hitler wanted to legitimize its construction with the UK.

Germany, 1934 Build Plan (pre German-Anglo Naval Agreement), additional ships only:

* 3 Aircraft Carriers (none started)
* 0 or 2 Battleships (the first two Panzerschiffe in this plan were upgraded to fast battleships in response to the French Dunkerque and became the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; this was done prior to the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, so I put those ships here since their funding came from this build plan)
* 8 or 6 Panzerschiffe (the KMS Graf Spee was started prior to this plan and not included in the 8 additional ships; 2 of these ships were upgraded to battleships in the design phase)
* 18 cruisers (no distinction made between heavy and light in the source I found; I would assume CLs)
* 48 destroyers
* 72 submarines

So, to sum that up, the 1934 build plan would result in a Kriegsmarine consisting of, using in-game units, 2 BC (the pre-dreadnoughts), 3 CV, 11 CA, 24 CL, 10-16 DD (depends on if you want DD units to be 3 ships or 5), 7-15 SS (depends on if you think subs units have 5 ships or 10), and be completed by 1949. The reason for the long buildup time is because when this plan was made, Germany still had to adhere to the Versaille Treaty limitations, and the Germans felt that by 1949 they could've gained the necessary knowledge to build aircraft carriers (Germany had started converting the passenger liner Ausonia into a carrier near the end of WW1, but didn't finish it, and thus had no experience building such ships since then) and change the global political situation to allow them to build the larger ships. Germany also didn't want to antagonize the UK, which Hitler sought in 1934 as a potential ally against the French and Soviets.

Of note is that the 26 submarines (the 4 in-game units) completed or "in the build queue" in the 1936 start are from this build plan, as well as the destroyers in the build queue. I have no idea what the level II destroyers already finished in the '36 vanilla OOB are, because the level II destroyers in the build queue are the 4 1934-class destroyers I mentioned above. The level I destroyers are the Möwe-class heavy torpedo boats. Also, building the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau as a replacement for two of the Panzerschiffe would fit into the '34 build plan, because those ships were designed and construction started shortly after the '34 build plan was made, after Hitler was persuaded to upgrade the ships from being Panzerschiffe to battleships.

Later expansion plans, Germany, 1938 Bauplan III, total fleet size:

* 6 H-class Battleships
* 2 Bismarck-class Battleships (designed for both commerce raiding and surface combat)
* 2 Scharnhorst-class Battleships/Battlecruisers (the Royal Navy called them BCs due to their small guns, while everyone else called the BBs; after the war the RN reclassed them as BBs; they were designed for commerce raiding)
* 2 Graf Zeppelin-class Aircraft Carriers
* 6 unknown-class Aircraft Carriers
* 12 P-class Panzerschiffe
* 3 Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe
* 5 Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruisers (These used 8" guns just like every other CA in the world outside of the Panzerschiffe; designed for commerce raiding)
* 24 M-class light cruisers (these would've been scouts for the commerce raiders)
* 36 Spähkreuzer-class heavy destroyers (these would've been screens for the battleships and carriers, their name translates to "scout cruiser")
* 158 Destroyers and Torpedo Boats
* 249 Submarines

Note that the 2 pre-dreadnoughts and the light cruisers that Germany gets in vanilla aren't counted here. The whole fleet was supposed to be completed by '47. You won't see the Spähkreuzer destroyers in a vanilla game either, and will either need to play a mod that has a destroyer model for them (HPP for sure, maybe others), or a mod that has heavy destroyers, like ICE.

Germany, 1939 Plan Z (A revision of the 1938 build plan), total fleet size

* 6 H-class Battleships
* 3 O-class Battleships/Battlecruisers (depends on how you classify them, and varies by source; these ships had BB-type guns but cruiser-type armor and were to be commerce raiders)
* 2 Bismarck-class Battleships
* 2 Scharnhorst-class Battleships/Battlecruisers
* 2 Graf Zeppelin-class Aircraft Carriers
* 2 unknown-class Aircraft Carriers (since design work was never started, the class was never named; every book I've read simply says "2 other carriers")
* 12 P-class Panzerschiffe
* 3 Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe
* 5 Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruisers
* 12 M-class light cruisers
* 3 K-class light cruisers
* 1 Emden-class light cruiser
* 1 Leipzig-class light cruiser
* 1 Nürnberg-class light cruiser
* 22 Spähkreuzer-class heavy destroyers
* 158 Destroyers and Torpedo Boats
* 249 Submarines

The new ships in this plan were to be finished by 1945, the original planned year Hitler wanted to start the war. As a side note, Rügen Island was supposed to be transformed into Germany's main naval base as part of this plan.

To sum this up, Plan Z would've been centered around 4 core battle fleets consisting of 2 BBs, 1 CV, and 5 Spähkreuzer destroyers each, while the 5 BCs, 20 CAs, 18 CLs, and 249 SSs performed convoy raiding using the CL's as spotters. The remaining destroyers and torpedo boats would've been in a separate branch, performing coastal patrols and convoy escorting.

Germany, what it really built after 1936, new construction only:

* 2 H39-class Battleships (construction started, neither launched nor named)
* 2 Bismarck-class Battleships
* 2 Scharnhorst-class Battleships/Battlecruisers
* 2 Graf Zeppelin-class Aircraft Carriers (1 was launched, the other was started but not launched; neither ship was finished)
* 1 Europa-class Aircraft Carrier (converted troop transport, never finished)
* 5 Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruisers (3 were commissioned, 2 launched but not completed; Lützow was sold to the USSR, Seydlitz repurposed)
* 1 Weser-class Aircraft Carrier (converted Admiral Hipper CA Seydlitz, never finished)
* 2 Jade-class Aircraft Carrier (converted merchant ships Potsdam, and Gneisenau, never finished)
* 1 De Grasse-class Aircraft Carrier (converted French CL, never finished)
* 2 M-class light cruisers (construction started in '38, neither finished)
* 0 1944-class destroyers (8 planned, none finished; these ships were the resulting design from experience from the 1942-class)
* 0 1942-class destroyers (1 planned as an experiment with diesel engines, sunk by Allied bombers during construction)
* 0 1938B-class destroyers (12 ordered, all cancelled)
* 0 1938A/Ac-class destroyers (3 ordered, all cancelled)
* 0 1936C-class destroyers (6 ordered, all cancelled)
* 3 1936B-class destroyers (5 ordered, 2 cancelled)
* 7 1936A "Mob"-class destroyers
* 8 1936A "Narvik"-class destroyers
* 6 1936-class destroyers
* 12 1934A-class destroyers
* 61 Type XXIII-class submarines (coastal version of the Type XXI, these were by far the fastest subs in the world at the time)
* 118 Type XXI-class submarines (these subs had triple the battery power of the Type VII's and could operate mostly submerged)
* 7 Type XVII-class submarines (17 planned, 10 cancelled; these were experimental ships that used High-test peroxide as its fuel)
* 10 Type XIV-class submarines (24 planned, 14 cancelled; these ships only had AA guns and were used to supply other subs)
* 8 Type X-class submarines (these mainly acted as transport subs rather than combat ones)
* 32 Type IXD-class submarines (36 ordered, 4 cancelled; these mainly acted as transport subs rather than combat ones)
* 87 Type IXC/40-class submarines
* 54 Type IXC-class submarines
* 14 Type IXB-class submarine
* 8 Type IXA-class submarines
* 0 Type VIIC/42-class submarines (164 ordered, all cancelled in favor of the new Type XXI)
* 91+ Type VIIC/41-class submarines (91 commissioned, possibly more under construction; can't find more details)
* 568+ Type VIIC-class submarines (568 commissioned, possibly more under construction; can't find more details)
* 24 Type VIIB-class submarines
* 10 Type VIIA-class submarines
* 16 Type IID-class submarines
* 8 Type IIC-class submarines
* 2 Type IIB-class submarines

Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Netherlands saw Japan as their most likely enemy, relying on Germany to adhere to the Versailles treaty or go through Belgium instead of the Netherlands in case of a war in Europe. As such, their naval buildup was planned with the assumption that Japan's carriers and big ships would be distracted by the RN and/or the USN, and the Netherlands would only have to deal with Japan's cruisers and smaller ships. Dutch submarines were to harass Japanese shipping and attempt to ambush patrols, while Dutch cruisers would attempt to prevent any Japanese landings in Indonesia. Old ships were to be retired and replaced, as the Dutch preferred quality over quantity. The planned expansion began in 1935 after the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and was to end in 43.

Ships in service in 1936 that were to remain in service by '43

- 1 De Ruyter-class CL.

- 2 Java-class CLs (finished shortly after WW1).

- 8 Admiralen-class DDs (completed in the '20s).

- 18 submarines.

Ships in service in 1936 that were to be scrapped by '43

-Coastal Battleship Soerabaja (was to be scrapped after the Design 1047 BCs were built; ultimately was sunk by Japan in Indonesia in 1942).

-Coastal Battleship Hertog Hendrik (scheduled for scrap in '39, start of war postponed decommissioning; captured by Germany).

-Coastal Battleship Jacob van Heemskerck (partially disarmed in '39, scuttled by crew when Germany invaded; raised by Germany and used as a floating AA gun; ended service in 1974 as a barracks ship).

- Light Cruiser Gelderland (decommissioned in '39 and partially disarmed; captured by Germany and used as mobile AA battery; sunk by Soviets near Finland in 1944).

Ships to be completed by '43

-3 Design 1047 BCs (less-armored copies of the Scharnhorst, which was developed with Netherlands help; construction never started and the class never named).

-2 De Zeven Provinciën-class CL (only 1 built pre-war, the other was finished later).

-2 Tromp-class CL (intended to lead destroyer flotillas, both finished).

- 4 Gerard Callenburgh-class DDs (only 2 built).

Whether the Netherlands actually expected 3 BCs, 5 CLs, 12 DDs, and 18 subs to take on the IJN's cruisers I don't know, but it seems highly unlikely, IMO, that their naval plan would've been adequate even with the assumption that the bulk of the IJN would be occupied by the USN and/or RN. The BC's might've been able to tip the balance in their favor, but the Netherlands didn't have any experience building such ships, and only considered this option after Germany requested Netherlands assistance in designing the Scharnhorst, which gave the Netherlands the necessary plans to build the ship on their own. However, construction on the Battlecruisers never started due to Germany delaying and hindering orders for the ships' main guns. With no other reliable trade partner willing to sell the Netherlands the required heavy weapons because they themselves were rearming, construction never started.

Empire of Japan

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the third largest in the world. It was also the most advanced navy in the world. Japan was the first to build purpose-built aircraft carriers (IJN Hosho), the first to build destroyers with multi-purpose guns that could be used against ships and aircraft (IJN Fubuki), the first nation to use oxygen-fueled torpedoes (Type 93 torpedo, the best throughout the war), the first nation to use torpedo tubes in splinter-proof turrets (IJN Fubuki), the first nation to create ships with 14" guns (IJN Kongo), the first nation to build ships with 16" guns (IJN Nagato), and the only nation to build ships with 18" guns (IJN Yamato). The IJN was admired by the other naval powers, and its innovations copied. The IJN's night fighting capabilities were also the best in the world; no other navy came close to the training and experience the IJN had during night fights. In addition, the blueprints for the planned German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin and its sister ship the Peter Strasser (and in extension, the planned Spanish carriers) came from the IJN Akagi aircraft carrier.

The IJN was created with two conflicting doctrines in mind; to take over the European colonies and defeat the USN, which was correctly deemed much more dangerous than the aging RN. On one hand, due to Japan's reliance on external resources like the UK, Japan had to be able to project power across long distances. Carriers fit this role nicely, as planes could reach further inland than a battleship's guns, and were much more flexible.

However, the second focus of beating the USN meant that the IJN should operate close to home, with the aim of attritioning the USN then soundly defeating the survivors. The IJN's pre-war plan to beat the USN was to use its Pacific island holdings to harass the USN using air strikes, cruiser and destroyer attacks, and submarine amushes, all attacking at night; the Type 93 torpedo mentioned above was designed and created with exactly this type of warfare in mind. Then, once the USN got close to Japan itself, Japan's fresh battleships would strike and eliminate the USN in one decisive battle. As a result, Japan was unique in that its submarines were specifically designed and its crews trained to hunt warships instead of merchant shipping. In addition, Japanese destroyers were designed more as large torpedo boats than traditional western ASW ships, reflected by the high percentage of Japanese destroyers being sunk by American submarines.

As history has shown us, Japan's Decisive Battle Plan doctrine would lead to its ultimate defeat, because precious resources would be diverted from carrier and airplane production to building the Yamato-class battleships (take a look at the last list), which proved to be worthless in actual combat. The proponents of aircraft carriers proved to be correct, but by the time this realization occurred it was too late. Japan's hopes for a decisive win were destroyed by the very ships it intended to achieve such a victory with.

As a result of the opposing doctrines, Japan's ASW capabilities were poor, and unable to deal with Allied submarine raids against its civilian and supply convoys. This lead to the supply shortages Japanese troops in the Pacific experienced. You'll notice in the last list a huge focus on destroyers that never materialized, which reflected the IJN's leadership realizing their ASW capabilities were inadequate.

A note about Japan's carriers. The notation CVE refers to RN and USN escort carriers, which were slow ships designed to escort convoys and hunt submarines. In contrast, Japan fielded light carriers, CVL. These ships were simply smaller aircraft carriers; they were just as fast as normal fleet vessels and served the same purpose as normal fleet carriers. Often, info sites like Wikipedia will list CVL's as normal fleet carriers, when in fact these ships were not fleet carriers, but light carriers.

Japan, 1936 naval OOB

1 Akagi-class CV
1 Kaga-class CV
1 Ryujo-class CVL
1 Hosho-class CVL
2 Mogami-class CA
4 Takao-class CA
4 Myoko-class CA
2 Aoba-class CA
2 Furutaka-class CA
2 Kasuga-class CA
3 Sendai-class CL (8 planned, 5 canceled due to the 1922 Washington treaty)
6 Nagara-class CL
1 Yubari-class CL
5 Kuma-class CL
2 Tenryu-class CL
6 Hatsuharu-class DD
24 Fubuki-class DD
12 Mutsiki-class DD
9 Kamikaze-class DD (ironically, all were sunk by US submarines...)
8 Wakatake-class DD
15 Minekaze-class DD
21 Momi-class DD
25 Kaidai-class SS
6 Junsen-class SS
18 Type L-class SS
22 Kaichu-class SS

Japan, ships launched by Jan. 1, 1936

2 Nagato-class BB (undergoing reconstruction)
2 Ise-class BB (undergoing reconstruction)
1 Fuso-class BB (undergoing reconstruction)
4 Kongo-class BC (undergoing reconstruction, reclassed as fast battleships after reconstruction)
1 Soryu-class CV
1 Mogami-class CA
4 Kaidai-class SS
2 Junsen-class SS
1 Kaichu-class SS

Japan, ships finished by December 7, 1941

2 Shokaku-class CV
1 Soryu-class CV
2 Zuiho-class CVL
1 Fuso-class BB (reconstructed from 1937 to 1940)
2 Tone-class CA
1 Mogami-class CA
3 Katori-class CL (4 ordered, 3 completed)
19 Kagero-class DD (note: 22 were planned, but the extra 3 were actually dummy ships to cover up the Yamato's budget)
10 Asashio-class DD
29 Otu-class SS

Japan, ships built or under construction between the start of its entry in WW2 and its surrender

5 Yamato-class BB (2 finished, 1 converted to carrier, 1 scrapped, 1 never laid down)
1 Shinano-class CV (the converted BB from above, sunk 10 days after commissioning by a single submarine torpedo)
16 Unryu-class CV (3 finished, rest canceled to divert funds to the Shinano)
1 Taiho-class CV
2 Hiyo-class CV
1 Ibuki-class CVL
2 Chitose-class CVL
1 Ryuho-class CVL
1 Ibuki-class CA (repurposed to CVL while under construction, see above)
2 Oyodo-class CL (only 1 finished)
4 Agano-class CL
80 Tachibana-class DD (only 14 finished)
74 Matsu-class DD (only 18 finished)
17 Shimakaze-class heavy DD (1 finished)
38 Yugumo-class DD (19 finished, 1 was ready before Pearl Harbor)
39 Akizuki-class DD (12 finished)
23 Sen Taka-class SS (3 finished)
18 Sen Toku-class CV.SS (3 finished; these were submarine aircraft carriers, designed to carry 3 seaplanes and conduct raids on the US West Coast and Panama Canal)
20 Hei-class SS
6 Kou-class SS

The United States of America

After WW1 and the signing of the 1922 naval treaty, the USN's main rival was determined to be Japan, as the US and UK were on friendly terms while Japan sought to expand its power in Asia. Japan's ambitions would place it as the main threat to US interests in the region (trade with China as well as its colony of the Philippines), as well as a threat to the British, French, and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia.

The naval doctrine of the USN was in a state of transition in 1936. The previous school of thought prior to Japan commissioning the IJN Soryu was the same as the UK's naval doctrine; secure the sealanes from submarines with destroyers, and defeat the enemy's core fleet with battleships using carriers to provide air cover. After Japan left the naval treaties in 1936, an overhaul of the USN's doctrine was made, with an increased focus on using carrier groups escorted by battleships instead of battleship groups escorted by carriers. All battleships but the 5 planned Montana's built by the US after the 1936 naval treaty were built as fast battleships, which sacrificed armor for speed in order to keep up with the USN's much faster carriers. These fast battleships were meant to provide AA fire as well as sink any Japanese cruisers attempting to attack the carriers. The ships also had large 16" guns in order to potentially fight on-par with Japan's Kongo-class Battlecruisers (the North Carolina's were designed explicitly to be able to keep up with carriers and punch through the 28-year old Kongo-class BCs' armor). Because of the nature of Pacific warfare, all cruisers after the Atlanta-class were designed with increased range and AA guns in mind over anti-surface weapons and armor, reflecting the new focus on aircraft carriers. Similarly, American submarines (Japanese too) were designed for long-range missions with the intent of attacking Japanese surface vessels, as opposed to commerce raiding. In fact, it's quite possible that American subs sunk more military tonnage than any of the other world navies, despite there being far fewer of them. Many early-model Japanese destroyers were sunk by American subs, and the Japanese super-carrier Shinano was sunk by a submarine.

In general, from a purely objective standpoint, Japanese ships were of higher quality than the American and British ships and Japanese crews, pilots, and leaders were far better trained and experienced when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Japan's major problem was its lack of industrial output, which limited its ability to absorb losses and create new designs. Despite Japan's initial successes, they ultimately succumbed to an enemy that was able to outnumber them by 2:1 within a year, and by the end of the war had over 5 times as many ships as Japan had when everything started. As TZoli pointed out in a post after this one, the US had produced more naval tonnage by 1945 than the rest of the world's navies combined, dooming Japan's ambitions the moment it awoke the "sleeping giant".

The 1936 USN OOB, commissioned ships only

1 Ranger-class Aircraft Carrier
2 Lexington-class Aircraft Carriers (originally built as battlecruisers)
1 Langley-class Light Aircraft Carrier
0 South Dakota-class Battleships (6 planned, all cancelled due to 1922 naval treaty)
3 Colorado-class Battleships (4 planned, 3 finished)
2 Tennessee-class Battleships
3 New Mexico-class Battleships
2 Pennsylvania-class Battleships
2 Nevada-class Battleships
2 New York-class Battleships
2 Wyoming-class Battleships
5 New Orleans-class Heavy Cruisers
2 Portland-class Heavy Cruisers
6 Northampton-class Heavy Cruisers
2 Pensacola-class Heavy Cruisers
7 Brooklyn-class Light Cruisers
10 Omaha-class Light Cruisers (these ships were designed to be scouts for battleships)
8 Farragut-class Destroyers
156 Clemson-class Destroyers (161 planned, 5 cancelled)
69 Wickes-class Destroyers (111 finished, 42 lost or repurposed by 1936)
10 Porpoise-class Submarines
2 Cachalot-class Submarines
51 S-class Submarines
27 R-class Submarines

The Jan. 1, 1936 USN OOB, launched ships only

2 New Orleans-class Heavy Cruisers

Additional commissioned ships by December 1941

1 Wasp-class Aircraft Carrier
3 Yorktown-class Aircraft Carriers
2 North Carolina-class Fast Battleships
1 Wichita-class Heavy Cruiser
2 St. Louis-class Light Cruisers
21 Gleaves-class Destroyers
6 Benson-class Destroyers
12 Sims-class Destroyers
10 Benham-class Destroyers
5 Somers-class Destroyers
8 Bagley-class Destroyers
4 Gridley-class Destroyers
18 Mahan-class Destroyers
8 Porter-class Destroyers
1 Gato-class Submarine
12 Tambor-class Submarines
10 Sargo-class Submarines
6 Salmon-class Submarines

Additional launched ships by December 1941 (aka they were "in the build queue")

4 South Dakota-class Fast Battleships
1 Cleveland-class Light Cruiser (52 planned, 3 canceled, 27 completed as CLs, 9 converted to CVLs, and 13 reordered as missile cruisers)
4 Atlanta-class Light Cruisers
41 Gleaves-class Destroyers
2 Benson-class Destroyers
2 Gato-class Submarines

Ships completed by the end of the war

19 Essex-class Aircraft Carriers (32 planned, 24 finished in total)
9 Independence-class Light Aircraft Carriers (converted Cleveland CLs)
4 Iowa-class Fast Battleships (6 planned, 4 finished)
2 Alaska-class Heavy Cruiser (these were almost as large as battleships, and therefore could be modeled as BCs in-game; in fact, they had 12" guns and were the only CA's aside from Germany's Panzerschiffe to not have 8" gun main armaments)
12 Baltimore-class Heavy Cruisers (14 planned, all finished)
26 Cleveland-class Light Cruisers
7 Atlanta-class Cruisers
47 Gearing-class Destroyers (152 planned, 98 completed overall)
58 Allen M. Sumner-class Destroyers
175 Fletcher-class Destroyers
22 Benson-class Destroyers
31 Tench-class Submarines (146 planned, 115 canceled)
128 Balao-class Submarines (191 planned, 128 finished)
74 Gato-class Submarines

Ships still under construction at the end of the war

3 Midway-class Aircraft Carriers (3 planned, all completed)
5 Essex-class Aircraft Carriers
0 Montana-class Battleships (5 planned, construction never started; these were the USN's answer to Japan's Yamato-class battleships and would be SH.BBs in the game)*
2 Iowa-class Fast Battleships
1 Alaska-class Heavy Cruiser (6 were planned in total, only 2 finished)
3 Oregon City-class Heavy Cruisers (10 planned, 4 finished)
2 Batlimore-class Heavy Cruisers
2 Worcester-class Light Cruisers (10 planned, 2 finished)
3 Fargo-class Light Cruisers (13 planned, 2 finished, 11 canceled)
62 Gearing-class Destroyers

I think you mean 4 South Dakota class





I think that should be 3 Midway class. Midway and F.D. Roosevelt were laid down in 1943, Coral Sea followed in 1944.

Regards,

Kingdom of Italy

Italy seriously considered building carriers during the inter-war years. Many tests were done using the seaplane-tender Giuseppe Miraglia concerning using catapults to launch seaplanes, and the Giuseppe Miraglia was in service during the war. It was due to political squabbling that the carrier Aquilia wasn't completed before the war started, since the navy and airforce couldn't come to terms about which branch the Aquilia's planes would answer to.

In May 1935 the Italian navy began procurement activities to expand the RM by 4 battleships (2 were the modernized Conte di Cavour class being reconstructed and the other two were the first of the Littorio class), 3 carriers, 4 cruisers, 54 subs, and 40 smaller ships. The battleships Roma and Impero were added in December 1935.

The Regia Marina in 1936

2 Andrea Doria-class BB
2 Conte di Cavour-class BB
2 Trentos-class CA
4 Zaras-class CA
1 Bolzano-class CA
1 San Giorgio-class CA
2 Duca d'Aosta-class CL
2 Montecuccoli-class CL
2 Cadorna-class CL
4 Di Giussano-class CL
1 Pillau-class CL (captured from Germany after WW1, renamed RM Bari)
1 Magdeburg-class CL (captured from Germany after WW1, renamed RM Taranto)
1 Libia-class CL (ex-Ottoman Drama)
1 Brindisi-class CL (ex-Austrian Helgoland)
1 Venezia-class CL (ex-Austrian Saida)
1 Ancona-class CL (ex-German Graudenz)
4 Maestrale-class DD
4 Freccia-class DD
12 Navigatori-class DD
8 Turbine-class DD
4 Sella-class DD
4 Sauro-class DD
4 Curtatone-class DD
3 Leone-class DD (5 were planned, 2 were canceled)
3 Mirabello-class DD
4 Archimede-class SS
12 Sirena-class SS
7 Argonauta-class SS
3 Mameli-class SS
4 Pisani-class SS
4 Bandierra-class SS
4 Ballila-class SS

Construction after 1936

4 Vittorio Veneto-class Battleships (4 launched, 3 commissioned)
1 Sparviero-class CV (converted ocean liner, never finished)
1 Aquilia-class CV (converted ocean liner, never finished)
2 Costanzo Ciano-class CL (construction never started, designs were done)
2 Etna-class CL (the Thai Navy ordered them in '38, Italy took over ownership; damaged during construction & never finished)
12 Capitani Romani-class CL (12 ordered, 4 commissioned)
2 Duca degli Abruzzi-class CL
21 Commandanti Medaglia d'Oro-class DD (only 9 launched, none finished)
24 Soldati-class DD (19 finished)
12 Cagni-class SS (4 finished)
6 Marconi-class SS (all finished)
11 Marcello-class SS (all finished)

To sum that up, the total of completed construction and existing ships by the time of Italy's surrender in 1943 would've been, using in-game units: 7 BBs, 8 CA, 22 CL, 12 DD, and 6 SS. An additional 2 CV, 1 BB, 12 CL, 3 DD, and 1 SS were planned but never completed.