Japanese heavy cruisers were intended for reconnaissance by force rather than service as enlarged gun cruisers. Speed, guns, torpedoes, and range allowed them to search ahead of the fleet and survive contact long enough to report. Combat power supported intelligence gathering in this armed scouting concept. The later cruiser classes can therefore be judged against their ability to meet that reconnaissance requirement.
Chapter · 0:55-1:41
Japanese heavy cruisers as reconnaissance by force
The opening defines Japanese heavy cruisers as fast, heavily armed scouts built to find an enemy fleet and survive contact.