Why Tribal-class destroyers could be mistaken for cruisers off Samar

Would Japanese confusion be understandable if the destroyers off Samar had been Tribal-class ships?

Yes; their cruiser-like silhouette could make a nearby Tribal look like a larger cruiser at greater range.

The counterfactual replaces the American destroyers and destroyer escorts off Samar with Tribal-class ships. A Tribal's two-funnel silhouette and four visible gun positions resemble a cruiser when seen at distance. An observer might therefore identify a closer destroyer as a more distant cruiser, distorting both range and threat assessment. Operating Tribals beside Arethusa- or Town-class cruisers could compound the mistake through similar visual cues.