Why wartime cruiser plans returned to 9.2-inch guns

Is that why emergency wartime cruiser proposals returned to 9.2-inch guns?

Yes. They offered a major improvement over eight-inch guns without demanding much more space.

The calibre's advantages explain its return in emergency cruiser thinking. A 9.2-inch gun would have delivered a substantial improvement over an eight-inch battery without requiring much more space in the ship. That combination made it attractive for a wartime cruiser that needed greater striking power without crossing fully into battleship-scale armament.