A German fleet designed for commerce raiding rather than battle

What fleet should Germany have built with ten years of preparation?

Long-range light cruisers, carriers, escorts, minelayers, and many submarines would fit Germany's commerce-war needs better than a conventional battle fleet.

The proposed alternative abandons the Panzerschiff as the center of German surface planning. Six-inch guns were sufficient against merchant ships and most escorts, allowing long-range light cruisers to combine raiding, minelaying, and carrier-escort duties. Groups built around four to six carriers with several cruisers each would be backed by long-range destroyers, torpedo boats, and many U-boats. Designing for the North Atlantic instead of the Baltic would align the ships with Germany's actual strategic problem. The proposal does not guarantee victory, but it produces a fleet with a coherent commerce-war mission.