Japan building pocket battlecruisers to act as commerce raiders according to the Australian newspaper The West Australian dated Monday 21 February 1938

An item published an item dated London, England 19 February referring to the naval correspondent of the Sunday Times who said that Japan was building pocket battlecruisers to be used as ocean commerce raiders. Their displacement would be 15,000-16,000 tons, main armament consisted of 6/8-30.48cm/12” guns, a formidable anti aircraft armament and a speed of more as 32.5 knots. “The Japanese spokesman had frequently hinted at these ships. Admiral Yamamoto notably referred to vessels suited to Japan’s special requirements. The building of such ships within the prohibited zone of 10,000-17,000 ton cruisers caused the greatest anxiety to the other navies. Their use as commerce raiders demanded a new merchant trade defence and convoy system with capital ships of 40,000-43,000 tons armed with 45.72cm/18” guns as escort. The newspaper The Age dated Monday 21 February 1938 added that there were at least 2 pocket battle cruisers under construction and 2 more authorized.

Source

Trove.nla.gov.au