The ships' careers sit awkwardly with the term scout cruiser because their 24.5-knot speed and operational record show little emphasis on reconnaissance. The closing exercise asks viewers to classify them by their actual work, especially communications, flotilla support, counter-destroyer defense, and minelaying. It also asks what machinery, weapons, protection, or other design changes would improve that mission set and whether the existing ships were already adequate. No answer is supplied, leaving this as a viewer design exercise.
Notable Point · 48:59-49:58
How should the Blonde class be reclassified?
The closing design exercise asks what label better fits ships used for communications and minelaying, and how their design could better serve those roles.