Regular cruiser orders could preserve shipyard, armour, and gun-making capacity while maintaining Britain's global maritime presence. Full County-class cruisers are preferred to the smaller York and Exeter in this proposal, and a larger pre-1930 cruiser force could have shaped the London treaty negotiations. Sloops matter just as much in this model because they could escort trade, patrol, sweep mines, support oceanographic work, and help Dominion navies build personnel and industrial capacity. Regular orders would sustain the yards and the armour and gun manufacturers that supplied them.
Chapter · 13:33-21:43
Cruisers and sloops as an imperial economic programme
A treaty-compliant economic strategy could have sustained British yards through more County-class cruisers and versatile sloops for escort, patrol, and training roles.