Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 54:26-55:10

What Britain might build after the County class

The likely successor to Britain's County-class cruisers depends on whether treaty limits continue to permit repeated 10,000-ton heavy cruisers.

County Class CruisersHeavy CruisersNaval TreatiesRoyal NavyShip DesignSurrey Class Heavy Cruisers
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Question

Which British heavy-cruiser design was most likely to follow the County class?

Short answer

An enhanced Surrey or 9.2-inch design was possible, but unchanged treaty rules would most likely produce further evolved County-class cruisers.

Notes

The possibilities include enhanced Surrey designs and a 9.2-inch-gun study among the possibilities. If the treaty system continued to let Britain build 10,000-ton cruisers in quantity, he expects the practical answer to be further evolved Counties. Six-inch cruisers might still appear, but a continuing stream of eight-inch ships would upset other navies' planning. The exchange connects design choice to the rules governing total cruiser construction.