F3 speed and common ammunition offered peacetime and wartime flexibility

F3's nine-gun battery offered a stronger balance than F2's six guns for a small reduction in speed. Ordinary quoted speeds excluded forced draft: 30 knots is treated as attainable under forced draft, while 31-32 knots remains a constructor's estimate. Common 15-inch ammunition and industrial support could reduce the cost of introducing a separate heavy-gun system. A possible mid-1930s refit would replace the eight 6-inch guns with 4.5-inch dual-purpose armament, although the eventual battery size remains uncertain. The faster ships could undertake worldwide presence missions while remaining able to return when needed, reducing the dependence on Hood. That mobility would also help them choose the circumstances of an engagement with slower opponents.