Removing floatplanes from cruisers becomes easier when light carriers can provide reconnaissance and convoy aviation without forcing a gun ship to slow for aircraft recovery. Prewar technical work makes automatic 9.2-inch guns plausible, while the United States may prefer an automatic 8-inch weapon or an Alaska-like 12-inch large cruiser. Automatic 6-inch mounts preserve a numerous light-cruiser line with a high volume of fire. Small scout cruisers such as Arethusa or Capitani Romani face a worse future because large destroyers can perform their screening and leader duties more cheaply. Treaty categories give way to a new hierarchy based on automation, range, and the economics of each mission.
Chapter · 59:04-1:05:55
Autoloaders and large destroyers redraw the cruiser hierarchy
Cruisers divide between automatic 6-inch ships, automatic 8- or 9.2-inch heavy cruisers, and 12-inch large cruisers while destroyers erase the smallest cruiser category.