While other powers emphasized treaty heavy cruisers, the Royal Navy invested in large light cruisers with numerous rapid-firing six-inch guns. It regarded the Towns as capable of deterring and fighting eight-inch-gun opponents despite their weaker torpedo armament. This was not a claim that every Town should seek a solitary duel with a heavy cruiser. Operationally, the preferred answer was concentration: an enemy raider should meet several cruisers or a whole squadron, anticipating the group tactics seen at the River Plate.
Notable Point · 27:07-29:07
Large light cruisers answer foreign heavy cruisers
The Royal Navy expected rapid-firing six-inch Towns to deter heavy cruisers and, in war, defeat raiders through coordinated cruiser groups rather than single-ship duels.