What navies would do with a 15,000-ton cruiser limit

What cruisers would the major navies build under a 15,000-ton limit with 8-inch guns?

Britain and the United States would probably field twelve-gun developments of County and Pensacola, while Japan would pursue an even more heavily armed design.

Extra displacement without a larger gun limit would encourage navies to add barrels, protection, and machinery. A Royal Navy County derivative might carry four triple 8-inch turrets, while an American Pensacola successor could also reach twelve guns. Speed might remain near 32.5 knots, consuming part of the added tonnage. Japan would likely push the formula even harder, illustrating how a larger displacement ceiling can intensify competition inside a nominal caliber restriction.