A heavier County derivative that was less survivable

The class is criticised as a pair of presence and image ships whose speed and appearance exceeded their fighting value. One possible explanation for the two-inch belt is that Spain lacked the industrial capacity to provide heavier protection; that remains a suggestion, not an established cause. The resulting County derivative displaced more while offering less survivability. In a hypothetical duel, both eight-inch batteries could cause serious damage, but a British County's four-inch secondaries could also threaten the Spanish ship. The Spanish 4.7-inch secondaries would have to close much farther to cause comparable damage through British protection. Better British fire control would probably allow hits at longer ranges and make the first hit and repeated hits more likely.