An early AA cruiser would have depended on the guns available when its design was settled. A British ship ordered in the late 1920s or early 1930s would probably have used 4-inch weapons. Better guns and fire-control systems still needed development. Mounting weight then limited later alterations: a position able to support twin 4-inch guns could not simply take a twin 5.25-inch turret. An early American design would probably have used 5-inch/25 guns, although the 5-inch/38's development offered another possibility. Building sooner therefore involved a lasting choice about armament and the structure needed to carry it.
Notable Point · 16:12-24:30
Why an early AA cruiser could age badly
An early AA cruiser would be shaped by the guns available at ordering, and its mounting positions could limit later increases in calibre.