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I never realized the Mogami class actually suffered from becoming a heavy cruisers, but it makes perfect sense with your explanation.
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The Japanese didn't think it was a problem. Neither did anyone else. The combat effectiveness of the high rate of fire from modern light cruisers was a total surprise to nearly everyone. The US didn't conduct their first "Rapid Continuous" firing test until 1939, when the USS Savannah fired 138 rounds in 1 minute. That was under peacetime conditions. During the war, she and her sisters did much better.
Further, nobody really noticed that the treaty-limited heavy cruisers all lacked effective armor against 6" shells, except for over their magazines and sometimes their turrets and lower deck. The cloud of 6" shells probably wouldn't sink a treaty heavy cruiser, but they would certainly achieve a "Mission Kill" by destroying the bridge, fire control directors and weapons. Historically, that's almost exactly what the USS Helena did to HMIJMS Aoba at the Battle of Cape Esperance.