Why the Indefatigable class had no strong Washington case

The historical ships were ordered while the more capable Lion class was already emerging. Much of the overseas infrastructure expense would have been incurred for either design, weakening the economy argument for the smaller ships. Their 12-inch guns and older design also left them behind the newer ships Britain could retain at Washington. Speed offered an escape from slower battleships, but enemy battlecruisers could still force them into combat. Protection and subdivision therefore mattered even without battleship-level armour, and the Indefatigables offered too little margin for damage. Jutland damaged their reputation, although their employment was also a command and doctrinal failure. British battlecruisers were intended to manoeuvre outside the battle line, while Queen Elizabeth-class battleships could sustain the prolonged exchange of heavy fire. Putting commerce-protection ships into a line that restricted evasive manoeuvres exposed them to a task they were poorly suited to perform.