Why were Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sometimes classified as battlecruisers?
Short answerThe label made British category strength look better, even though the ships were more accurately fast battleships.
NotesThe battlecruiser classification was politically convenient because Britain could claim superiority in that category. Treating Scharnhorst and Gneisenau as fast battleships exposed a British capability gap. The Admiralty soon returned to the more accurate classification.