The S90 made the torpedo boat an offensive fleet arm

The S90s were large beside contemporary British destroyers, but they were slower and initially less heavily gunned. A crew of 69 operated three 450 mm torpedo tubes and an early battery of three 50 mm guns. Forty-eight boats were built, and some remained in service with Germany or other operators in 1921. The design concentrated on delivering torpedoes from a stable platform, making these boats an offensive skirmishing arm. An analogy with light cavalry explains their intended role: influencing the information picture and the shape of a battle while avoiding direct combat with the enemy's strongest units.