Cruisers have long served in the role of escort and defensive vessels, screening carrier task forces and amphibious assaults from enemy ships and aircraft. During WWII cruisers were classified as light ("CL") or heavy ("CA"). Light cruisers typically had guns no larger than 6" in diameter, whereas heavy cruisers had guns larger than 6" but smaller than 8". Unlike most cruisers fielded by the Allies, Japanese cruisers also sported deadly banks of "Long Lance" oxygen-fueled torpedoes. Furthermore, Japanese cruisers carried reloads for their deadly torpedoes (torpedoes were one-shot deals for other navies).