Would replacing Deutschland's triple 11-inch turrets with twin 8-inch mountings have produced a better ship?
Short answerIt could have produced a relatively capable heavy cruiser.
NotesA viewer proposes replacing each triple 11-inch turret with a pair of twin 8-inch mountings. The result could be a relatively capable heavy cruiser. The counterfactual gives up the class's headline gun size in exchange for a role and layout closer to established cruiser practice. It supports the larger argument that Deutschland's problems came from building the ship around oversized weapons without a fully convincing operational purpose.