Brooklyn-class cruisers offered the strongest scouting fit

Which American cruiser class would be best suited to making this discovery?

The Brooklyn class, because of its aviation facilities, although it appeared too late for a much larger force to be built under this premise.

The Brooklyn class was the best American cruiser type for this search because of its stronger aircraft provision, broadly comparable with the British Town-class cruisers. The limitation is chronology: Brooklyns entered the program too late for a simple 1920s construction expansion to place many more in service by December 1941. The strongest tactical platform was therefore harder to obtain under the counterfactual procurement premise. Earlier authorization would instead favor older cruiser designs.