Air defense became an increasingly frequent requirement, while six-inch guns remained necessary against surface combatants and shore targets. A cruiser still needed a way to destroy an enemy ship as well as defend against its attacks. The same reasoning supports carrying anti-ship missiles alongside the larger supply of air-defense missiles on modern warships. Anti-aircraft weapons also had to destroy attacking aircraft when enough carrier protection was unavailable.
Notable Point · 1:21:04-1:22:24
Why cruisers still needed six-inch guns as air defense grew
Cruisers needed strong air defense for frequent aircraft attacks while retaining six-inch guns for surface combat and shore bombardment.