What Hawkins-class cruisers could still do in the Second World War

What were the best Second World War roles for Hawkins-class cruisers?

Convoy escort and presence in secondary theatres, where their speed and existing capability remained useful.

Convoy escort and presence in secondary theatres are the proposed wartime roles for Hawkins-class cruisers. Their quoted speed of about thirty knots remains useful for those tasks. Such employment makes use of an existing older ship without assuming fighting parity with a modern heavy cruiser.