Now arose the question of design. Should the new light cruiser be the smallest of the cruisers or the biggest of the destroyers? We had already in existence a few unarmoured light cruisers carrying 4–inch guns called the _Blondes_. We had also an experimental destroyer of enormous size, nearly 2,000 tons and about 36 knots speed, called the _Swift_. In between these were eight hybrid vessels called ‘Scouts’ representing weakness and confusion of thought: they had neither speed to run nor guns to fight; they steamed only 24 knots and mounted only a litter of 12–pounders; they carried no armour, but they ate up men and money. Whatever happened we must avoid a feeble compromise like that. I therefore called for designs of an improved _Swift_ and an improved _Blonde_. The main object of both these types was to rupture a torpedo attack on the Battle Fleet, scout for it, and otherwise protect it. But destroyers were now being freely armed with 4–inch guns firing a 32–lb. shell capable of inflicting very serious injury on an unarmoured vessel. We must therefore have some protection, if not to keep out the shell at any rate to keep the bulk of the explosion outside the vessel. We must also have high speed and guns sufficient to punish even the biggest destroyers cruelly.
The constructors and engineers toiled and schemed, and in a few weeks Sir Philip Watts and Sir Henry Oram, _par nobile fratrum_, produced two joint alternative designs, the super-_Blonde_ and the super-_Swift_. Both these vessels showed far higher qualities than anything previously achieved for their size and cost; but both were dependent upon oil only. I remitted these designs to a conference of Cruiser Admirals. I could feel opinion turning to the super-_Blonde_. I wrote to Fisher on the 12th January, 1912:—
In sustained rumination about super-_Swifts_, two types emerging.
(1) The super-_Swift_. 37 knots. Six 4–inch—600 tons of oil. £250,000. I want her to be superior at every point to all T.B.D.’s. Speed she has, and stronger armament, and superior stability. But it is alleged by Briggs[25] (_Advocatus Diaboli_—a very necessary functionary) that she will be as flimsy as the destroyers, and a bigger target. So I have tried to find her a thicker skin—not much, but enough to flash off a 12–pounder or even a 4–inch shell. I can get from Admiral Watts 2–inch tensile steel round all vitals with great strengthening of the general structure of the vessel for 160 tons, £2,200, and three-quarters of a knot speed. The speed would come back as the oil was used up. I think it is a great advance. What do you feel?
