How navies might answer the Deutschland class without treaty limits

If cruiser treaty restrictions were abandoned when the Deutschland class appeared, what British gun armament would answer it?

Twelve 9.2-inch guns are the proposed response, combining volume of fire with a clear distinction from battleships.

A British reply to the Deutschland class could use twelve 9.2-inch guns in four triple turrets. The proposed advantage is a greater volume of fire against the German ship's six 11-inch guns. Choosing 9.2 inches also preserves a visible distinction between a cruiser and a battleship. That distinction matters because the Treasury could otherwise treat the new ships as substitutes for capital-ship construction.