USS Augusta's flagship role and CXAM-1 radar refit

Augusta served as Asiatic Fleet flagship and later became closely associated with presidential transport and senior command duties. Her 1940 refit added four 5-inch guns, interim 3-inch antiaircraft weapons, directors, splinter protection, and a pedestal for the CXAM antenna. She later received CXAM-1 from the next production batch. Heavy cruisers received radar quickly because they had the electrical generation, topweight margin, internal space, and speed needed to accompany fast task groups. Those qualities made Augusta useful despite the class's weakness in a cruiser fight.