Type 1936B destroyer

The Type 1936B class of destroyers was a class of five destroyers built for the German Kriegsmarine between 1941 and 1942, of which only three - Z36, Z35, and Z43 - were commissioned and saw service. The Z36 and Z35 were lost in the Gulf of Finland after hitting friendly mines,^[1][2] while Z43 was scuttled near the end of the war.^[3]

Design

The Type 1936B destroyer class differed from the previous Type 1936A class in several ways. One was that the twin 15-centimetre (5.9 in) turrets, positioned fore and aft, were removed because the older Type 1936As had been found to be too unstable in heavy seas. ^[4] These two twin turrets were removed and replaced with five single 15 cm (5.9 in) turrets.^[5] along with more anti-aircraft defences.^[4] Apart from some other minor modifications, the ships retained the main characteristics of the 1936A class. They displaced 2,527 tonnes (2,487 long tons), and were manned by a crew of 321 officers and men.^[6] Although they had a maximum speed of 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph), their range was 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).^[6] The main armament of five 15 cm SK C/28 guns ^[6] could be depressed to -10° and elevated to 35°.^[7] The turrets had an arc of fire of 360°, able to fire at any given point.^[7] The guns fired 45.3-kilogram (100 lb) armor-piercing or high-explosive shells at a muzzle velocity of 875 metres per second (2,870 ft/s) to a range of 23,000 metres (25,000 yd).^[7] The destroyers also carried four 37-millimetre (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns and six 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns in pairs.^[6] They had eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes and, when fitted as a minelayer, could carry 76 mines. ^[6]

Ships of the class

References