The Ticonderoga class shows that warship labels respond to institutional politics as well as hull design and mission. The ships originated from a large destroyer or destroyer-leader hull rather than a traditional US cruiser lineage. Congress was concerned that the Soviet Navy appeared to possess more cruisers, even though Soviet strategic and diplomatic requirements explained much of that fleet. Redesignating the American ships narrowed the numerical cruiser gap without first creating an entirely new cruiser design.
Notable Point · 40:43-42:12
Why Ticonderoga became a cruiser on paper
Congressional concern over a perceived Soviet cruiser advantage helped turn a destroyer-leader design into a US cruiser designation.