The 1930s Royal Navy Town-class cruisers were intended to counter surface raiders. The same characteristics that made them suitable for countering surface raiders also made them excellent potential raiders. The suggestion that this second use never occurred to the Royal Navy during design and construction is ironic.
Notable Point · 1:24-1:43
The 1930s Town class and countering surface raiders
The Royal Navy's 1930s Town-class cruisers had characteristics suited to both countering surface raiders and raiding themselves.