Within the frame of the German Naval "Z-Plan", there
were considerations for the time after a victorious war and therefore there were
plans for small gun boats to be used in a colonial environment. Designated
"Kolonialkanonenboot 39, Entwurf K" ("Colonial Gun boat 39, Design K"), 106 m
long ships were designed, which in reality were small
destroyers.
For such a type of ship, they were very well armed
with two 12.7 cm gun twin turrets, three 3.7 cm twin AA guns and two 2 cm twin
AA guns, as well as two 53.3 cm twin torpedo tubes. Some submarine hunting
equipment was to be installed too and they were to have a small capability to
transport and deploy mines. These ships were to be used in the to be re-occupied
former German colonies in order to protect German interests there. A secondary
role would have been the protection of civilian shipping in the
colonies.
The ships were to have a width of 12.3 m and a draft
of 3.5 m, so that they could be used in shallow waters. Six of these ships were
included in the "Z-Plan", but due to insufficient shipyard capabilities, none of
these were built.
There are rumors that the type ship was to be named
"Hermelin" ("Ermine").