At the same time as the development of the big destroyers of the Zerstörer 1938A/Ac class started, a class of small destroyers for operations in coastal waters, especially the Baltic Sea, started.

The ships could be compared to the British A- H-class destroyers build between the wars, but the very light anti aircraft armament was not adequate even at the time of construction.

In summer of 1939 12 of those ships were ordered that had to be delivered until 1945. But three weeks after the start of World War II, all ships were canceled and additional ships of the Zerstörer 1936A class were ordered.