Why the Tone-class hybrid is a compromise

How well did the Japanese Tone-class cruisers combine their two roles?

They were an interesting idea, but a hybrid cruiser-seaplane ship made damaging compromises that dedicated ships could avoid.

The stern aviation arrangement adds vulnerable fuel and limits gun arcs on a vessel expected to fight within gun range. The hybrid therefore combines the risks of aviation operations with compromises to the cruiser's gunnery. Treaty provisions allowed purpose-built seaplane carriers, so the scouting requirement did not compel this particular solution. A dedicated aviation ship and a conventional cruiser would have produced a more coherent force design.