Eleven-inch or fourteen-inch guns for the Dutch design

The planned ships carried nine 280-millimeter guns, only slightly larger than a nominal 11-inch caliber. Building them in Britain could permit three twin 14-inch turrets instead if the turret rings were adjusted. That alternative would create a small-navy status unit with heavier striking power while retaining the design's fast-cruiser character. The tradeoff illustrates how foreign-yard access can reshape armament and alliance value as well as the construction schedule.