E3 as a purpose-built cruiser killer

Would the E3 armoured cruiser have been a cruiser killer in the way Tiger was intended to hunt battlecruisers?

Yes; its 9.2-inch and six-inch armament, speed, and protection form a package designed to defeat cruiser-sized opponents.

The E3 design combines four twin 9.2-inch turrets, eight six-inch casemate guns, 28-knot speed, and useful armour. That package points to a ship intended to kill cruisers rather than merely scout or raid. Secondary calibre also depends on target survivability, including subdivision as well as armour. A four-inch shell may be adequate against a fragile target, while a tougher cruiser demands heavier repeated hits.