Carriers cannot replace every cruising function unless a navy owns them in sufficient numbers. A navy still needs ships that can show presence and operate alone across a wide map. No post-Second World War navy has possessed enough carriers to make that substitution universal. This is a force-structure argument about coverage, availability, and independent operations.
Notable Point · 16:17-16:46
The enduring need for cruisers
A cruiser remains useful when a navy lacks enough carriers to be everywhere and needs a ship able to operate independently.