 The ships also carried twelve 8.8 cm SK L / 35 guns for close in defense; these were arranged in groups of four in shielded pivot mounts. Four guns were mounted around the forward conning tower, four were emplaced around the rear two funnels amidships, with the last four guns placed on top of the rear superstructure. These guns fired a 15.4 lb (7.0 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 770 m (2,530 ft) per second. They could elevate to 25°and could engage targets out to 9,090 m (29,820 ft). The vessels' armament system was rounded out by four 45 cm (18 in) submerged torpedo tubes. They were mounted in the bow, stern, and on each broadside, and supplied with eleven torpedoes.
