Dunkerque's intended advantage over lighter opponents

Dunkerque is judged capable of facing Scharnhorst, the Deutschland class, and the Trento class. Its combination of speed, protection, and armament was oriented toward defeating those opponents. That limited target set explains the criticism of its value against larger contemporary battleships. The classification used here remains fast battleship, even though the emphasis on lighter opponents helps explain why some call it a battlecruiser.