What a modern cruiser would need to do

What capabilities would distinguish a modern cruiser from a modern destroyer or frigate?

It would add long-range presence, command, aviation, boats, marines, and diplomatic spaces, probably requiring a hull of at least 12,000 to 15,000 tons.

The historical cruiser definition carries into a modern design thought experiment. Beyond weapons, the ship would require helicopters, boats, marine accommodation, multipurpose spaces, and facilities for command and diplomacy. Those demands point toward a vessel of roughly 12,000 to 15,000 tons or more. The answer reinforces the lecture's central idea that cruiser identity comes from independent reach and breadth of task rather than gun caliber alone.