German Cruiser Classes of the First World War

Introduction
Protected/ Heavy Cruisers
Armoured/ Heavy Cruisers
Battlecruisers
Light Cruisers

Introduction

The German cruisers in use during the First World War fall into three broad categories – heavy cruisers, battlecruisers and light cruisers.

The heavy cruisers consisted of older protected and armoured cruisers.  Up to the Scharnhorst class they were not especially well designed ships, which carried twice the number of the heaviest 8.3in guns. The final armoured cruiser, SMS Blücher, was a precursor of the battlecruiser, carrying what could be described as all-medium-gun armament, with twelve 8.2in guns.

The battlecruisers were generally excellent ships. Compared the their British equivalents they normally carried slightly lighter guns (11.1in compared to 12in on the earlier classes), with thicker armour. In service they proved to be more survivable than the British battlecruisers.

German light cruisers tended to combine the functions of British second class/ light cruisers and third class/ scouting cruisers. They were generally good ships, but often heavier and less nimble than the lighter British cruisers operating with the fleets. Their main weakness was a reliance on 4.1in guns, retained until the Pillau class of 1913-1915. During the same period British light cruisers normally carried 6in guns.

Protected/ Heavy Cruisers

Armoured Cruisers/ Heavy Cruisers

Battlecruisers

Light Cruisers

* Ten Cöln class cruisers were laid down, seven launched but only two completed

Books on the First World War | Subject Index: First World War

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