The armoured-cruiser pair is not intended to serve as a second line of battleships, but each ship carries 11-inch guns for a reason. On a distant station it might meet a battleship bought by a minor power, and the design avoids leaving the cruiser completely outmatched. The two cruiser classes also complement one another, with different mixtures of 6-inch and 3-inch secondary weapons. During the action, a steady rain of 3-inch shells imposes cumulative damage and distraction while the heavier weapons decide the main contest.
Notable Point · 1:51:00-1:53:48
Armoured cruisers designed for distant-station danger
An armoured-cruiser action explains why ships on distant stations may need enough gun power to face a minor power's battleship.