Alaska-class cruisers were originally designed and ordered by the United States Navy because of mistaken intelligence reports stating that Japan was constructing "super cruisers" that would be much more powerful than the 8 in (203.2 mm)-gunned heavy cruisers the U.S. possessed. See: Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 122 and Pike, John (2008). "CB-1 Alaska Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
Pike, John (2008). "CB-1 Alaska Class". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 19 October 2008.