The design uses three triple 8-inch turrets ahead of the machinery spaces, backed by 4-inch guns and broadside torpedo batteries. A narrower, deeper hull is intended to improve efficiency and leave more weight for protection while remaining close to County-class full-load displacement. Its 32-knot speed deliberately gives up the Japanese comparison ship's extra pace in exchange for a stronger defensive scheme. The discussion also covers flooding protection, fire control, sonar, propulsion, and the deck-and-belt armour distribution rather than treating armament as the whole design.
Chapter · 9:13-16:15
An all-forward Royal Navy treaty cruiser
The proposed London-class cruiser concentrates nine 8-inch guns forward while retaining torpedoes, dual-purpose guns, sensors, 32-knot speed, and substantial armour.