The Minneapolis-class cruisers are the last U.S. Navy cruisers built under the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty. The U.S. Navy classifies its treaty cruisers as "light armored cruisers" and assigns them the new hull designation of "CL".
As "late era" treaty cruisers, the Minneapolises are generally compared to the British County-class, the Japanese Takao-class, the French Algérie-class, and the Italian Zara-class. The United States is the only signatory power which does not fit its treaty cruisers with eight-inch guns, the largest caliber permitted under the terms; instead, they are uniquely armed with lighter but more numerous and much faster-firing seven-inch guns.