How much did Baltimore improve on treaty cruisers?

Did the Baltimore class improve enough on treaty cruisers to deserve a different classification?

Its improvements are acknowledged, but the participants disagree over whether they justify a new category.

Baltimore's gun count and calibre are compared with earlier American treaty cruisers. The case for a larger improvement includes ammunition hoists, weight of fire, protection, damage resistance, and better detection and fire-control systems, along with a stronger antiaircraft battery. The opposing view accepts those improvements but denies that they justify a different classification. A claim of resistance to 8-inch shells is challenged and reduced to 6-inch fire at battle ranges. The remaining disagreement concerns how much superiority a new category should require.