Would a 15,500-18,000-ton County-class cruiser handle better or worse than the historical ships?
Short answerProbably about the same overall: added armor and firepower improve combat value, while deeper draft and a larger turning circle offset some of the gains.
NotesMore displacement can buy armor and firepower, but it also changes how the cruiser sits and turns in the water. The larger ship would absorb more punishment while drawing more deeply and needing more room to maneuver, leaving its overall handling broadly comparable to the historical class.