A design had been circulated in 1902–03 for "a powerful 'all big-gun' armament of two calibres, viz. four 12-inch and twelve 9.2-inch guns."
En tegning havde også cirkuleret i 1902-03 med "en kraftig 'udelukkende store kanoner' bestykning i to kalibre, dvs. fire 12-tommer og tolv 9,2-tommer kanoner".