At the outbreak of the Second World War, the German Navy, the Kriegsmarine, had 21 destroyers (Ger: Zerstörer).[1] These had all been built in the 1930s, making them modern vessels. A further 19 were brought into service during the war and more were captured from opposing navies, including the Italian Navy (Regia Marina) after the Italian surrender in 1943.[2]
German destroyer classes were generally known by the year of their design. Because of their size, use and weaponry, some vessels classified as "fleet torpedo boats", Flottentorpedoboot, are also described.[1]
Class general characteristics are taken from the first of each class, and may differ slightly for individual ships, particularly when they were refitted. Post-war, some surviving ships had significant changes to armament.
Z1 Leberecht Maass |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Built: | 1934–1935 |
| In commission: | 1937–1947 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Zerstörer 1934 |
| Displacement: | 3,155 long tons (3,206 t) maximum |
| Length: | 119 m (390 ft 5 in) o/a 114 m (374 ft 0 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 4.23 m (13 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h) |
| Range: | 1,900 nmi (3,500 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 325 |
| Armament: | • 5 × 128 mm (5 in) guns • 4 × 37 mm guns • 6 × 20 mm guns • 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • 60 mines |
This class of four ships was the first German destroyer class built since World War I, laid down between October 1934 and January 1935. They were not very good ships. Built rapidly, they were too wet in heavy seas, which could make their forward guns unusable, there were structural weaknesses and machinery problems. The engines were newly designed high pressure turbines that promised much but disappointed once installed: maintenance was difficult and they caused excessive vibration. In addition, the class' range was limited (less than half of equivalent British ships) and they had limited magazine capacities (again half of the British equivalents). Only one ship survived the war. The ships were named after German navy personnel killed in World War I.
The ships were:
| Z1 Leberecht Maas | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 15 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 |
| Z2 Georg Thiele | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 25 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 |
| Z3 Max Schultz | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 2 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 |
| Z4 Richard Beitzen | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 7 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 |
The scuttled wreck of the Bernd von Arnim in the Rombaksfjord near Narvik. |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DeSchiMAG Germaniawerft Blohm + Voß |
| Built: | 1935–1936 |
| In commission: | 1937–1958 |
| Completed: | 12 |
| Lost: | 7 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type 1934A-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,223 metric tons (2,188 long tons) |
| Length: | 119 m (390 ft 5 in) o/a 114 m (374 ft 0 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draft: | 4.23 m (13 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power: | 70,000 shp (52,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2 × Wagner geared steam turbines 6 × water-tube boilers |
| Speed: | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range: | 2,040 nmi (3,780 km; 2,350 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement: | 325 |
| Armament: | 5 × 127 mm (5 in) guns 4 (later 14) × 37 mm guns 6 (later 10) × 20 mm guns 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines |
Twelve destroyers laid down between July and November, 1935. They were only slightly modified from the design of the preceding 1934 class and continued their predecessors' limited endurance and magazine capacity - factors which contributed to the heavy German losses at the Second Battle of Narvik. Five survived the war.
| Z5 Paul Jakobi | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 July 1935
Launched: 24 March 1936 |
| Z6 Theodor Riedel | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 18 July 1935
Launched: 22 April 1936 |
| Z7 Hermann Schoemann | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 7 September 1935 Launched: 16 July 1936 |
| Z8 Bruno Heinemann | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1936
Launched: 15 September 1936 |
| Z9 Wolfgang Zenker | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 23 March 1935 Launched: 27 March 1936 |
| Z10 Hans Lody | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1 April 1935
Launched: 14 May 1936 |
| Z11 Bernd von Arnim | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 26 April 1935 Launched: 8 July 1936 |
| Z12 Erich Giese | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 3 May 1935
Launched: 12 March 1937 |
| Z13 Erich Koellner | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 12 October 1935 Launched: 18 March 1937 |
| Z14 Friedrich Ihn | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 5 November 1935 |
| Z15 Erich Steinbrinck | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 24 September 1936 |
| Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 14 November 1935 Launched: 21 March 1937 |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DeSchiMAG |
| Operators: | Kriegsmarine Soviet Navy |
| Preceded by: | Type 1934A class |
| Succeeded by: | Type 1936A class |
| Built: | 1936–1939 |
| In service: | 1938—1956 |
| In commission: | 1938–1949 |
| Planned: | 26 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Lost: | 5 |
| Scrapped: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type 1936-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,806 tonnes (2,762 long tons) (standard) |
| Length: | 123.4–125.1 meters (404 ft 10 in–410 ft 5 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 11.75 m (38 ft 7 in) |
| Draft: | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power: | 70,000 shp (52,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts 2 × Wagner geared steam turbine sets 6 × Wagner water-tube boilers |
| Speed: | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range: | 2,090 nmi (3,870 km; 2,410 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement: | 323 |
| Armament: | 5 × 1 - 127 mm (5 in) guns 2 × 2 - 37 mm guns 7 × 1 - 20 mm guns 2 × 4 - 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines |
These 6 ships (of 26 planned) were improved and enlarged versions of the 1934 and 1934A classes. Despite the serious faults of the earlier ships not being apparent when these were in design, they had been resolved. Engine reliability and the structural integrity was much improved and they were much better seagoing ships, shipping much less water through an improvement in the design of the bows.
| Z17 Diether von Roeder | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 19 August 1937 |
| Z18 Hans Lüdemann | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 1 December 1937 |
| Z19 Hermann Künne | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 5 October 1936 Launched: 22.12.1937 |
| Z20 Karl Galster | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 September 1937 Launched: 15.06.1938 |
| Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 December 1937 Launched: 20 August 1938 |
| Z22 Anton Schmitt | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 3 January 1938 Launched: 20 September 1938 |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DeSchiMAG |
| Built: | 1938–1941 |
| In commission: | 1940–1958 |
| Completed: | 8 |
| Lost: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Zerstörer 1936A (Narvik-class) |
| Displacement: | 3,605 long tons (3,663 t) maximum |
| Length: | 127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a 121.9 m (399 ft 11 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 37.5 knots (43.2 mph; 69.5 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,180 nmi (4,040 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 330 |
| Armament: | • 4 or 5 × 150 mm (5.9 in) guns • 4 (later 10) × 37 mm guns • 8 (later 20) × 20 mm guns • 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • 60 mines • 4 × depth charge launchers |
Eight destroyers intended to carry new 150 mm (5.9 inch) guns in single turrets with a twin turret at the bow. The twin mountings were not ready in time and so singles were first used, and the twins fitted later (only to four ships: Z-23, Z-24, Z-25, Z-29). Anti-aircraft armament was substantially improved.
Despite reusing earlier ship designs as a basis, with modifications to improve seaworthiness, the ships were wet in heavy seas, especially fitted with heavy turrets. After much effort, the problem was traced to a newly designed stern. However, this problem was somewhat offset by the fact that the twin mount was fully enclosed and had a high maximum elevation, allowing limited use against aircraft.
These ships reverted to the traditional German practice of giving torpedo ships numbers rather than names. Four survived the war.
| Z23 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 November 1938 Launched: 15 December 1939 |
| Z24 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 2 January 1939 Launched: 7 March 1940 |
| Z25 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 February 1939 Launched: 16 March 1940 |
| Z26 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 April 1939 Launched: 2 April 1940 |
| Z27 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 27 December 1939 Launched: 1 August 1940 |
| Z28 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 30 November 1939 Launched: 20 August 1940 |
| Z29 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 21 March 1940 Launched: 15 October 1940 |
| Z30 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 April 1940 Launched: 8 December 1940 |
Z39 under US flag as DD-939 in 1945 |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DeSchiMAG |
| Built: | 1940–1943 |
| In commission: | 1942–1964 |
| Completed: | 7 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Zerstörer 1936A (Mob) |
| Displacement: | 3,700 long tons (3,800 t) maximum |
| Length: | 127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a 121.9 m (399 ft 11 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 4.62 m (15 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 37.5 knots (43.2 mph; 69.5 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,240 nmi (4,150 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 330 |
| Armament: | • 5 × 150 mm (5.9 in) guns • 4 (later 14) × 37 mm guns • 12 (later 18) × 20 mm guns • 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • 60 mines • 4 × depth charge launchers |
When war broke out in 1939, new destroyer classes were cancelled and 12 additional 1936A vessels were ordered with slight modifications to speed construction and save materials. The 150 mm twin turrets were taken from planned, but never built, "O" class battlecruisers. In war service, the engines were more reliable than in earlier ships but at the end of the war, heavy corrosion was discovered.
Seven of this sub-class were built: one was sunk, another two were severely damaged and not repaired. The remaining four were war booty allocated to the Allies.
| Z31 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 September 1940 Launched: 15 April 1941 |
| Z32 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 November 1940 Launched: 15 August 1941 |
| Z33 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 22 December 1940 Launched: 15 September 1941 |
| Z34 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1941 Launched: 5 May 1942 |
| Z37 | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 24 February 1941 |
| Z38 | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 |
| Z39 | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DeSchiMAG |
| Built: | 1941–1945 |
| In commission: | 1943–1964 |
| Planned: | 5 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Zerstörer 1936B |
| Displacement: | 3,540 long tons (3,600 t) maximum |
| Length: | 127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a 121.5 m (398 ft 7 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 4.21 m (13 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 36.5 knots (42.0 mph; 67.6 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,600 nmi (4,800 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 330 |
| Armament: | • 5 × 127 mm (5 in) guns • 4 (later 10) × 37 mm guns • 16 × 20 mm guns • 8 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • 76 mines • 4 × depth charge launchers |
The main armament of this class reduced back to single mounted 127 mm guns and the anti-aircraft armament was increased. The efficacy of this change was not proven in high seas as this sub-class only operated in the Baltic and coastal waters.
Two ships were never completed, being scrapped after the war. The three that were commissioned were all lost.
| Z35 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 6 June 1941 Launched: 2 October 1942 |
| Z36 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 September 1941 Launched: 15 May 1943 |
| Z43 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 May 1942 Launched: 22 September 1943 |
| Z44 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1942 Launched: 20 January 1944 |
| Z45 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1942 Launched: 15 April 1944 |
Six ships of this class were ordered in 1942 and 1943; none were launched, just two were started. They were a response to the vulnerability to air attack of early German destroyers and would have used six new 128 mm Flak 40 guns (originally designed for the Luftwaffe) as dual purpose weapons in twin mountings. The number of smaller caliber anti-aircraft guns would have also been increased.[4][5]
In order to provide support for larger German warships operating far from their bases, the development of large ocean going destroyers started in the late 1930s. They would have had dual power systems to enable long endurance cruises. Twenty-four of these were planned under Plan Z but the three actually ordered were cancelled. The concept was developed further into the Spähkreuzer.
Ships of this class would have been small destroyers designed to patrol and operate in Baltic and coastal waters, but would have had quite big operational range for such purpose, and could have also been used in high seas. Twelve ships were ordered in the summer of 1939, but after the start of World War II, all were cancelled.
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Deschimag, Bremen |
| Planned: | 1 |
| Completed: | 0 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| General characteristics [5] | |
| Class and type: | Zerstörer 1942 |
| Displacement: | 2,330 long tons (2,370 t) standard |
| Length: | 114.30 m (375 ft 0 in) o/a 108.00 m (354 ft 4 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion: | 6 × 24 cylinder MAN diesel engines, 57,120 bhp (42,590 kW) 3 shafts (4 diesels on centre shaft, 1 on each wing shaft) |
| Speed: | 36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h) |
| Range: | 13,500 mi (11,700 nmi; 21,700 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 235 |
| Armament: | 4 × 127 mm (5 in) guns 8 × 37 mm guns 12 × 20 mm guns 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 50 mines |
Experimental test-bed destroyer powered by diesel engines for long-range operations. Based on design of unbuilt Type 1938B destroyer, with six diesels driving three shafts, with an estimated speed of 36 knots (67 km/h) and an operating radius of 11,700 nautical miles; 21,700 kilometres (13,500 mi).[6] One example (Z.51) was laid down in 1943 and launched in 1944, but was sunk by Allied bombers on 21 March 1945 while fitting out.[5]
While Z.51 was a testbed for diesel propulsion, the Type 1944 destroyer was a production class of large, diesel powered destroyers. They were planned to have a revised armament, with six 128 mm C/41M dual purpose main guns, and an all-new anti-aircraft armament, with three 5.5 cm Gerät 58 intermediate calibre anti-aircraft guns and a close-in armament of 14 30-mm cannon in seven twin mounts, with eight torpedo tubes.[7][8]
Six of these ships (Z.52–Z.56) were laid down in 1943, but none were completed, being abandoned and broken up on the slips.[7] A further two ships (Z.57 and Z.58) were abandoned before construction started.[8]
Project for high-speed design reverting to steam-turbine propulsion. Unbuilt.[9]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Schichau |
| In commission: | 1941–1944 |
| Completed: | 15 |
| Lost: | 11 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Flottentorpedoboot 1939 (Elbing-class) |
| Displacement: | 1,755 long tons (1,783 t) maximum |
| Length: | 102.5 m (336 ft 3 in) o/a 97 m (318 ft 3 in) w/l |
| Beam: | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
| Draught: | 3.22 m (10 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 32,560 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots (37.4 mph; 60.2 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km) at 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 205 |
| Armament: | • 4 × 105 mm (4 in) guns • 4 × 37 mm guns • 9 × 20 mm guns • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • 50 mines |
The German Navy had several torpedo boat classes with displacements between 1,000 and 1,300 tons (for example the Mowe class Fleet Torpedo boats and Torpedo boat type 35). They sat between torpedo-equipped fast attack boats, known to the Allies as E-boats and the destroyers. In 1939, the Germans started work on new designs that were a response to the weaknesses of earlier designs. These "Fleet Torpedo Boats" (Flottentorpedoboot) were large, 1,755 tons, and more able as escorts and for anti-aircraft defence as well as torpedo attacks and they were comparable in most respects to some of the British destroyer classes. They were all laid down during the war.
The first of the fleet vessels, they were comparable in most respects to standard British destroyer types. Fifteen were laid down between 1940 and 1942, in the Schichau shipyard in Elbing (now Elbląg).
The last was commissioned at the end of 1944; three survived the war and served in Allied navies. The ships were numbered T22 to T36.
Following the capitualation of the Netherlands, Dutch shipyards were contracted to build 24 boats based on a Dutch design. Only three of these 2,600 ton vessels were launched. The three that were launched were moved to the Baltic in 1944 for work but none were completed.
This was a development of the 1939 class, with bigger engines and more anti-aircraft weapons. Fifteen were laid down or launched from 1942 but by the end of the war none had been completed.
These were to have been ocean-going vessels, as opposed to North Sea or coastal vessels, capable of operating with the fleet, with greater range and an emphasis on anti-aircraft weaponry. Nine were ordered in March 1944, the order was subsequently cancelled without any building having started.
Several destroyer sized ships were captured by the Germans and put into service. Please see article for details
Several destroyers were captured and used by the Germans.[10]
The Dutch Hr.Ms. Gerard Callenburgh was built by RDM Rotterdam and launched 12 October 1939. The Dutch attempted to scuttle this ship during the German invasion but the destroyer was salvaged and completed under German control with technical guidance from Blohm & Voss. Commissioned as the ZH1 on 11 October 1942. The Germans retained most of the Dutch armament and equipment. The ZH1 spent most of its life on trials in the Baltic but transferred to Western France via the English Channel in November 1943. When the western allies invaded Normandy (see Operation Neptune) the German destroyers based in western France attempted to interdict the invasion armada. The German squadron was intercepted by Allied destroyers (HMS Tartar, Ashanti, Eskimo, Javelin, HMCS Haida, Huron and ORP Błyskawica). ZH1 was torpedoed and sunk by Ashanti on 9 June 1944, 33 men were lost. (see Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer)
The Hull of the French Le Hardi class destroyer L'Opiniatre was captured intact and 16% complete in Bordeaux and the Kriegsmarine intended to complete her for service. Since French armament was not available and for standardisation with the rest of the German Navy, 12.7mm guns and German pattern torpedo tubes were ordered. Work proceeded tardily until all progress was abandoned in July 1943. The hull was eventually broken up on the slip [11]
The Greek destroyer Vasilefs Georgios was captured in damaged condition after the fall of Greece, then repaired in Greece with assistance from the Germaniawerft and commissioned by the Kriegsmarine as the ZG3 or the Hermes. She was the only major Kriegsmarine surface ship in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II, and she was involved in escorting convoys to North Africa and the Aegean islands.
The Hermes sank the Royal Navy's submarine HMS Splendid off Capri, Italy, on 21 April 1943. Then, she was damaged by air attacks off Tunisia. The Hermes had to be scuttled in La Goulette, Tunis on 7 May 1943.
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