 The initial design was approved on 30 September 1912 , though the heads of the General Navy Department — Vizeadmiral ( Vice Admiral ) Günther von Krosigk and Konteradmiral ( Rear Admiral ) Reinhard Scheer — and the Weapons Department head , Vizeadmiral Gerhard Gerdes , had to submit any revisions they deemed were necessary . The design staff suggested using triple or even quadruple gun turrets to keep the displacement under the 30 @,@ 000 @-@ ton limit . Another suggested alternative was to use six 38 cm ( 15 in ) guns in twin turrets , one forward and two aft ; Wilhelm II accepted that design on 2 May 1913 , though Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl , the commander in chief of the High Seas Fleet , preferred the 30 @.@ 5 cm gun of the Derfflinger @-@ class ships . As a compromise , the new battlecruisers were to be armed with eight 35 cm ( 13 @.@ 8 inch ) guns . 
