A non-treaty cruiser fleet would separate into clear size bands

Is 10,500 to 15,000 tons the right range for a non-treaty 1950s light cruiser?

A light cruiser is more likely around 10,000-12,000 tons, with scouts lower and heavy cruisers distinctly larger.

Without treaty categories, cruiser displacement would still reflect distinct missions. A scout cruiser could remain near 8,000 tons, while a general light cruiser occupies roughly the 10,000- to 12,000-ton range. A true heavy cruiser would then grow to about 16,000 to 18,000 tons. The clear water between those bands matters because it prevents the labels from describing almost identical hulls. This produces a role-based hierarchy rather than a single preferred cruiser size.