By this time, the design process had established that the hull was to be between perpendiculars and incorporate the single internal sloped armor belt. However, in case of rejection by the General Board, naval architects produced a series of alternatives. Among these were longer, faster ships armed with 14-inch guns in triple turrets, slower ships with 14-inch guns in quadruple turrets, improved versions of the "North Carolina" class, and a ship of 27 knots armed with nine 16-in guns in a similar configuration to the "North Carolina"s.