The Virtuoso, or Virtue, class Battlecruiser was part of the second generation of native designs built entirely by Mexico as part of her efforts to establish and secure her trading and colonial territory with the Caribbean and surrounding areas. With the rise of Colombia and Brasilia and the growing threat of communist agitation it was widely felt that future Battlecruisers would need to be stationed further afield to better range against potential enemies and would thus need both heavy armament and good legs.