More American cruiser construction could have helped Britain secure funding for the Empire County program. In this counterfactual, the extra American ships would provide an argument for British investment. Japan would face a much more expensive cruiser competition, potentially beyond what it could afford. If Britain and the United States each operated around forty heavy cruisers, Germany's Deutschland-class raiders would encounter a much denser network of opposing warships. Cruiser orders could therefore affect both procurement elsewhere and the operational freedom of future enemies.
Notable Point · 2:27:14-2:28:24
How American cruiser orders could have encouraged an Empire fleet
American cruiser orders could have encouraged British construction and increased pressure on Japanese budgets and German raiding plans.