Notable Point · 8:45:19-8:47:31

Alaska and Des Moines under competing cruiser definitions

A functional definition of heavy cruiser conflicts with treaty terminology when Alaska and Des Moines are compared.

Alaska Class Large Cruisers Baltimore Class Heavy Cruisers Des Moines Class Heavy Cruisers Heavy Cruisers Naval Gunnery Warship Classification

Watch at this time Full video guide

Notes

The disagreement turns on what 'heavy cruiser' means. One definition requires a substantial advantage over contemporary light cruisers and treats Alaska and Des Moines as different approaches to that requirement. Another uses the treaty category commonly applied to 8-inch cruisers. Applying treaty limits to Alaska instead brings it into the capital-ship discussion. The participants disagree about the classification because they are using different criteria.