Government policy constrained the Royal Navy to building light cruisers, but that category covered very different design ambitions. The office was simultaneously considering ordinary light cruisers, heavier ships such as Hawkins, and the large light cruisers. The Emeralds, with 6-inch guns and Enterprise's later twin turret, were closer to the Navy's peacetime preference. Procurement labels and political permission could obscure substantial differences in size, armament, and intended employment.
Notable Point · 37:38-38:28
Light-cruiser labels concealed a wide design spectrum
Government restriction to light-cruiser programmes left designers working on ordinary, heavier, and very large ships under the same political label.