In this assessment, the County class already threatened German pocket battleships because its greater speed let it set the range or decide whether to engage. Six 11-inch guns did not remove that tactical disadvantage against a County's eight 8-inch guns. A counterfactual County with twelve 8-inch guns would add a heavier broadside to its speed advantage. German commerce raiders would have stronger reasons to avoid an encounter with a full-size British heavy cruiser.
Notable Point · 2:14:09-2:15:04
Twelve-gun Counties increase the pressure on German raiders
The proposed twelve-gun County adds firepower to a speed advantage that already makes German raiders wary.