The Germans built a number of light cruisers in the belief that they were good multi-purpose vessels. Unlike the British, who built both long-range cruisers like the Town class for commerce protection and short-range "scout" cruisers for fleet support, the Germans built a single series of light cruisers for both functions. Compared to the British "scout" type the German ships were bigger, slower and less manoeuvrable but, through a successive series of classes, improved consistently in seagoing qualities. However, the Germans were very late in adapting 5.9-inch guns (not doing so until the of 1913); Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz's recalcitrance over the issue overrode the desires of others in the German Navy. For about a three-year period after the British "Weymouth" class of the Town series, completed with a uniform armament of 6-inch guns, and before the German "Pillau" class, German light cruisers (such as the and s) were faster but maintained a lighter 104 mm main armament compared to their British Town-class counterparts. With the "Pillau" and cruisers the Germans followed the British example of heavier guns.