The disagreement shows how classification can reflect expected employment as much as physical characteristics. Germany called the ships battleships, while the Royal Navy's early battlecruiser label reflected concern that they would become long-range commerce raiders. The Royal Navy later adopted the battleship label when German employment did not match that expectation. Their nine 11-inch guns threatened cruisers and merchant traffic but left them poorly matched against British capital ships. During the Norwegian campaign, Renown drove both sisters away soon after Admiral Hipper had sunk HMS Glowworm, one of her escorting destroyers.
Notable Point · 37:59-40:35
Why the Scharnhorst class attracted two labels
Germany called Scharnhorst and Gneisenau battleships, while the Royal Navy initially called them battlecruisers because it expected them to operate as commerce raiders.