 The ships ' hulls were divided into fourteen watertight compartments and had double bottoms that ran for 83 percent of the length of their keels . Both vessels had side bulges and bulbous bows . They were constructed with longitudinal steel frames , and were more than 90 percent welded in order to save weight . Nürnberg had a large , blocky forward superstructure , while Leipzig 's superstructure resembled that of the preceding Königsberg class . Nürnberg also had a large searchlight platform fitted on the funnel , while Leipzig did not . 
