 German armored cruisers — referred to as Große Kreuzer ( large cruisers ) — were designed for several tasks . The ships were designed to engage the reconnaissance forces of rival navies , as well as fight in the line of battle . The earliest armored cruiser — Fürst Bismarck — was rushed through production specifically to be deployed to China to assist in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 . Subsequent armored cruisers — with the exception of the two Scharnhorst @-@ class ships — served with the fleet in the reconnaissance force . 
