Talk:Hinted Content/@comment-261125-20160322055407/@comment-26082284-20160324180914

Nah. Chitose-class and Taigei can switch classification without problem. It's not the matter of game engine limitation. The point is, KanColle classify ships by function rather than legal distinction. IJN used their light cruisers as flotilla leaders - and their construction reflected that. Built like longer, heavier and upgunned destroyers they were supposed to support destroyers in their tasks - including ASW and torpedo attacks. And in-game they do exactly that.

On the other hand USN light cruisers were basically just cruisers, doing cruiser duties. They were regular (treaty) cruiser sized, did cruiser things and only difference was - as you pointed out - that they shot out slightly more slightly smaller shells compared to heavy cruisers. St. Louis class had no torpedoes and no ASW. From the practical point and from game mechanic point she was heavy cruiser, whatever letters penpusher from BuOrd decided to slap before her hull number.

Mogami was build as heavy cruiser from the very beginning and classyfing her as light cruiser was only creative accounting trick used to exploit London Treaty.