The American response to British 9.2-inch cruisers remains unsettled in this scenario. A 12-inch gun is considered unlikely for an immediate counterpart, while 10 inches is suggested as a possible larger calibre. The alternative is to accept the 9.2-inch limit. Smaller increases to roughly 9.3 or 9.5 inches are also raised, but shell handling sets a practical boundary. The concern is that the heavier shell would take the weapon out of cruiser rates of fire and toward battleship rates, sacrificing the advantage sought from the intermediate calibre.
Notable Point · 7:23:39-7:25:50
How a larger cruiser shell could cost rate of fire
Increasing the hypothetical American cruiser gun beyond 9.2 inches risks crossing into shells that take too long to handle at cruiser rates.