The Algarvian designers had a small problem. How to reduce what they wanted to build, the Vengeance class cruiser type vessels, to what the Washington Treaty said they could build, the ubiquitous 10,000 ton Treaty cruisers. The Vengeance class were almost twice the size of the Treaty cruisers at 18,500 tons. To get down to the new tonnage, the new cruiser class was going to take a lot of pain.
Less armour, smaller gun size, smaller ship overall. What the designers ended up with was no worse than the ships being built in other countries, and better than some. Two ships were built to the first initial design.
As built:
Displacement: 10,250 tons standard, 13,200 tons full load.
Dimensions: 600 x 64 x 24 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, geared turbines, 75,000shp
Speed: 31.5 knots
Endurance: 8,500 miles at 15 knots
Armour: 3.4 belt, 1.5 deck, 4/2/2 turrets
Armament:
8 x 8 (4x2)
6 x 4 (6x1)
8 x mgs (8x1)
12 x 21 TT (4x3)
Crew: 685
As refitted to 1940:
Displacement: 11,500 tons standard, 14,100 tons full load
Dimensions: 600 x 64 x 25 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, geared turbines, 75,000shp
Speed: 31 knots
Endurance: 8,000 miles at 15 knots
Armour: 3.4 belt, 1.5 deck, 4/2/2 turrets
Armament:
8 x 8 (4x2)
8 x 4 (4x2)
22 x 40mm (11x2)
6 x 21 TT (2x3)
Aircraft: 2
Crew: 710