The proposed design carries triple 4-inch mountings as a quick-firing secondary battery rather than treating the main armament as sufficient for every threat. These were open-backed mounts, despite the enclosed turrets shown by the design game's visual model. A fast cruiser conducting reconnaissance could unexpectedly meet coastal torpedo boats at short range. Rapid secondary fire therefore protects the ship in the kind of close, confused action for which its long-range 9.2-inch battery was not optimized.
Notable Point · 36:25-37:10
Why Tiger Cubs still needed quick-firing secondary guns
Triple 4-inch mounts give a fast reconnaissance cruiser the rapid fire needed when its large 9.2-inch guns are poorly suited to close encounters with torpedo boats.