Can a heavily armored light cruiser survive gunfire?

How difficult would a light cruiser with a 120 mm belt and 60 mm deck be for other light cruisers or destroyers to defeat?

The armour could resist initial hits, but repeated six-inch salvos and damage to exposed fighting systems could still disable the cruiser.

A 120 mm belt and 60 mm deck could cause initial six-inch shells to bounce or shatter. At the suggested engagement ranges of about 18,000-24,000 yards, repeated hits are the concern. Six-inch salvos may follow roughly ten seconds apart, compared with thirty seconds or more between battleship salvos, leaving less time to upset the aim through movement. Repeated impacts near earlier damage are offered as a reason to question thicker armour as the sole answer and to consider stronger subdivision. Even where the citadel holds, shells can destroy rangefinders, radar, communications, the bridge, intakes, and funnels. Graf Spee is used as an example of the cumulative effects of six-inch fire.