Flotilla leader was a role that could be filled by a very small cruiser or a large destroyer. The distinction between those ship types was therefore difficult to draw consistently. A similar problem arises when comparing modern frigates and destroyers, especially across different generations. A new frigate can carry heavier armament than a destroyer nearing the end of a long service life, so the label alone gives an incomplete account of capability.
Chapter · 4:09-5:55
Where a flotilla leader ends and a cruiser begins
Flotilla leadership could be assigned to a small cruiser or a large destroyer, making a rigid size boundary misleading.