County cruisers balanced many roles at once

A full County's value lay in balanced capability rather than simple size or prestige. It was an approximately eighty-percent solution across most roles, even if a specialist cruiser could outperform it in one category. York and Exeter lost part of that breadth with the fourth turret and other cuts. The procurement concept remains open to criticism while Exeter herself emerges as a solid vessel with an active and important service career.