Sankt Georg brought 9.4-inch, 7.5-inch, and 5.9-inch guns that the scout cruisers lacked, but her 22-knot speed prevented her from routinely operating as their fast heavy partner. Her arrival nevertheless supplied the weight needed to cover Novara's tow and the withdrawal from the 1917 raid. A turbine-powered successor with twin 9.4-inch turrets could have imposed a much harder problem on Italy. The existing cruisers remained excellent destroyer fighters and scouts, yet lacked the armour and firepower to force Otranto independently.
Notable Point · 39:34-42:37
Sankt Georg shows the missing capability
The heavily armed but 22-knot Sankt Georg rescued the raid, illustrating the need for a faster armoured cruiser rather than a stronger scout alone.