The previous Flottenbegleiter were built as escorts in a standard format. The new Condor class was to be designed and built around the latest fully automatic weaponry that was being tested and finalised for service. The 105mm/L70 (4.1") was a joint venture by all of the three services to produce a radar controlled automatic heavy anti-aircraft weapon. Many would be built from 1943 onward and would be placed around the Germanic States regions providing heavy AA cover to high value targets. For the navy, a twin turret was designed and built but was too late to be placed aboard the remaining large capital ship construction still being contemplated and was only fitted to the two classes. The Kondor class and the Z60 class.
The class names were taken from ships that had been sunk earlier in the war. The first unit was completed in August 1943, the other three ships followed at 3-4 month intervals. The other eight ships ordered were cancelled in favour of more type XXI submarines.