Why 9.2-inch guns offer a useful cruiser balance

What is the appeal of a Baltimore- or County-sized cruiser armed with 9.2-inch guns?

The gun offers much more shell effect than an 8-inch weapon at a similar rate of fire, helping it compete with rapid 6-inch batteries.

A 9.2-inch gun can maintain a rate of fire comparable to an 8-inch weapon while delivering a substantially more damaging shell. That heavier projectile narrows the volume-of-explosive advantage enjoyed by rapid-firing 6-inch batteries. It also avoids the much slower handling associated with 10- or 12-inch cruiser weapons. The caliber therefore gives a Baltimore- or County-sized ship a useful balance against both heavy and light opponents.