Orions, Lions, and Jellicoe's capital-ship program

The Orion class introduced 13.5-inch guns to Jellicoe's battleships, while the Lion class carried the same main caliber into faster capital ships. Lions cost about £2.1 million, roughly thirty percent more than earlier battlecruisers in the comparison. Greater capability meant higher costs and fewer ships for the same budget. This prompted Jellicoe to consider a separate station cruiser for duties that could no longer be covered affordably by ever larger battlecruisers. The station-cruiser idea was distinct from the large ships Fisher later justified through the same debate.