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What would a good scout cruiser look like, in the post 1906 Dreadnought building program in Imperial Germany? I know speed would be the most important aspect, and this would need to be achievable in all weather conditions, so what kind of tonnage would the Germans toss into such a craft if keeping size down, & speed and seaworthiness up?

I specifically am looking to avoid Germany building battlecruisers, so these craft would need to avoid the large guns that the OTL German BC mounted, and instead be as small & cheap enough as possible, so that they could be built in some numbers, and loosing a few wouldn't be a huge loss to the fleet, but they must keep sea worthiness and speed in all weather. Is this possible on less than 10,000 tons, or can only larger ships plough into a heavy sea at speed?

I am thinking armored against light cruisers guns of the day, and a minimum top speed of 30 kts in all but the roughest seas, and higher if possible on calm seas.


Any thought?
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