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comparing armament isn't as simple as comparing bore diameter. /

Well if you think a 57 mm can do what a broadside of 5 t inch shells can do, we'll have to disagree.

As for hull size, private rooms for the women sailors takes up space. And you can't free up enough space by removing the armor.

Today's Arleigh Burke class destroyers have the displacement of a WWII light cruiser (8000-10000 tons).

That's about the range of a pre-dreadnaught battleship.

Only hits count. A "broadside" of 5" shells that only hits water is a lot less useful than a smaller caliber auto-cannon that hits the target. That said, I too am disturbed by the lack of armament on these things. 2200 t and all they can come up with is one 57mm? Really? There's plenty of room for more, even considering the space taken up by the helo deck.

As for hull size, private rooms for the women sailors takes up space.

Arleigh Burke was laid down in 1988.

That's about the range of a pre-dreadnaught battleship.

The increase in hull size from pre-Dreadnaught to Iowa or Yamato was accompanied by a corresponding increase in gun size, with little change in the fundamental technology of the guns or sighting mechanism until the very end. We now have ships of the same tonnage but totally different armament and mission.