The wartime Royal Australian Navy provides the historical comparison for Hunter's role. Cruisers such as Australia, Canberra, Shropshire, Hobart, Perth, Sydney, and Adelaide formed the center of a force supported by Tribal-class destroyers and smaller vessels. That mix faced a geography in which no important destination is close. The balance reflects both strategic distance and the personnel limits of a navy that could not generate unlimited senior officers and crews.
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Australia's Second World War cruiser force and long distances
Australia's wartime fleet leaned toward cruisers because vast distances demanded credible ships with range and presence, but the navy could not crew a large number of them.