Pocket battleships

Pocket battleships were a class of warships used primarily by Germany in the 1930s and early World War II. They were smaller and lighter than traditional battleships but heavily armed, featuring long-range guns. Designed for speed and mobility, pocket battleships could operate independently, often engaging in commerce raiding against enemy merchant ships. Their unique combination of firepower and size allowed them to evade larger naval forces. However, they faced challenges due to their limited armor and could be vulnerable in direct confrontations with true battleships or battlecruisers. Notable examples include the Admiral Graf Spee and the Deutschland.