Starting from the Norfolk design, the Surrey class would have dropped to about 30 knots while adopting more efficient three-drum boilers and fewer boiler rooms. The machinery savings were intended to support thicker armour and a roomier internal arrangement. The Admiralty was seeking balance and survivability rather than a larger or more spectacular super-cruiser. Planners even considered retaining the older eight-inch mounting because its 70-degree elevation offered a barrage or deterrent role against aircraft, though its value as a precision anti-aircraft weapon is doubtful.
Chapter · 50:22-54:19
Surrey as a balanced County-class successor
The unbuilt Surrey traded a little speed for modern machinery, more armour, and a more balanced eight-inch cruiser design.