 Yet another conversion of Hawaii, this time to a "large command ship", was contemplated from August 1951. In this role, she would have been similar to Northampton, but larger. This conversion would have boasted expansive flag facilities and fully capable radar and communication systems for commanding carrier task forces, though there would have been no facilities for amphibious operations. Armament would have consisted of sixteen 5 "/ 54 caliber guns in single mounts; this gun size was specified because 3" / 50 caliber guns were believed to be too light. Two radars would have been mounted: an AN / SPS-2 on top of a forward tower, and an AN / SPS-8 on the aft superstructure. In addition, an SC-2 was to be mounted on top of a short tower aft of the stack (though forward of the SPS-8); this would have been used for "troposphere scatter communications".
