[Thermodyne]

The reason that it is Cruiser – Light, is because the light refers to the size of the main battery. Cruisers are by original design, ship with long range and the ability to stay at sea for long periods of time. A cruiser light could displace more tonnage than a cruiser medium, but have smaller/less main guns. Despite the heroics of WW2, cruisers were not meant to slug it out in fleet battles. There intent was to project the (illusion) of power across the globe and maintain some control over far flung international trade routes.