How the Royal Navy might spend 80,000 extra treaty tons

What would the Royal Navy do with 80,000 additional tons under the Washington Naval Treaty?

It would probably build more County-class cruisers and might add a third Nelson-class capital ship.

Given unrestricted placement of another 80,000 tons under the Washington system, the Royal Navy would probably emphasize cruisers because global commitments demanded many long-range hulls. An illustrative mix is another Nelson or Rodney-type capital ship plus roughly four or five additional London-subclass County cruisers, leaving a small residue for other needs. The date of the hypothetical matters as much as the tonnage. Extra allowance at Washington points toward Counties because that is the design and treaty environment then available. Under the later London treaty system, the same margin could instead include Town-class cruisers and another Ark Royal. Force choices follow the moment at which extra capacity becomes legal.