A loose alternate history fleshed out via a combination of writing and experimenting with SpringSharp. I've made substantial efforts to "do my homework" and keep things within realistic constraints, although overall the AU's U.S. Navy gets to be more aggressive in its adoption of new technologies and is allowed to build larger warships by the combination of a somewhat less parsimonious Congress and the spreading of geopolitical butterflies.
From an "out of character" perspective, the alternate history centers on two "primary" warship classes: the Portland-class armored cruiser and the Minneapolis-class light cruiser. These are the final classes of cruisers built under the restrictions of the alternate history's version of the Washington Naval Treaty and are the "parent" designs for the post-treaty cruisers which follow into World War II.