British cruisers and capital-ship politics

The Royal Navy could continue County-class heavy-cruiser construction and build more Town-type light cruisers. Its battleship decision is more politically charged because ministers cannot impose smaller guns without a treaty applying the same restraint elsewhere. The We Want Eight campaign had shown how public pressure could produce more ships than either the Treasury or the Admiralty initially proposed. Interwar studies included 10-, 11-, 12-, 14-, and 16-inch guns, but expectations of a navy second to none would push the new ship toward the full 35,000-ton limit. A plausible first design would make about 28 knots and use an F3-style all-forward main armament, with aviation aft and probably 4.7-inch secondary guns. Choosing 15-inch instead of 16-inch main guns could save roughly 1,000 tons for armor or speed. Ministers could present that choice as a peace gesture, while using existing 15-inch shells would offer another saving. National prestige would still make a reduction below 15 inches difficult when other powers were building 16-inch ships.