Actually the Alaskas were quite nice ships, I've read and during their construction, the USN hoped that this size would be the new standard for heavy cruisers. It became kind of a size standard, as the Des Moines class was not much smaller, but with much more useful armament.
But Alaska and Guam were well liked by their task force commanders for being well armed Flak platforms able to keep up with the fast carriers and able to perform coastal bombardment or surface action if need arose.
I think in 1944, planes aside, the Alaskas could have thrashed anything the IJN had except for maybe Yamato herself. The caliber might not be that much, but the gun was modern, the fire control top notch and with radar they could have dictated the engagement.
But for postwar, these ships were white elepthants, of course, but there were numerous reconstruction plans proposed, especially for the third incomplete ship, Hawaii.
But then the USN had the Des Moines class, with AA capable fully automatic armament.
__________________
|