What if every American light cruiser became a fictional Jacksonville-class light cruiser in 1942?
Short answerUS fleet air defense improves substantially, though the complex dual-purpose gun machinery may bring reliability problems.
NotesThe fictional replacement would improve American air defense and make the old Omaha-class cruisers much more useful. Each Jacksonville brings fifteen 6-inch guns and radar-directed 76 mm weapons. The absence of torpedoes also fits the American cruiser doctrine assumed in the scenario. Its enlarged Worcester-style turret would inherit concerns about how reliably that gun system worked, although the larger mounting is considered somewhat helpful. The usefulness of the main battery therefore depends on keeping its machinery operating.