The US Navy waited until 1926 and 1927 to lay down the Pensacola class despite being free to build sub-10,000-ton cruisers earlier. A navy claiming first-rate global status needed cruisers for presence when capital ships were restricted. More regular orders would also have grown yards, the design bureau, and opportunities to test new concepts. Chronic cruiser scarcity then followed the service into wartime. The missed program concerned sustainable institutional growth as much as hull numbers.
Chapter · 57:18-59:08
US cruisers for presence and institutional growth
Earlier cruiser orders could have given the United States global presence while steadily expanding yards, design expertise, and fleet capacity.