HMS Hawkins and the other ships were built as a result from wartime experience. The fact that German raiders so easily roamed the world's oceans, sinking the unprotected merchant ships, the lifeblood of the Empire, was considered unthinkable. The idea behind these ships was, long endurance with a good turn f speed and armament heavy enough to sink enemy raiders. The gun caliber chosen was unique 7.5"/50 gun in single pedestal mountings. This gun caliber was the reason why during the Washington disarmament conference in 1922 the 8" was chosen as a maximum for cruisers (and also submarines)
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Thank you Kim for the crest
"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"