German destroyer Z7 Hermann Schoemann

Z7 Hermann Schoemann c. 1938
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name: Z7 Hermann Schoemann
Namesake: Hermann Schoemann
Ordered: 9 January 1935
Builder: DeSchiMAG, Bremen
Yard number: W901
Laid down: 15 July 1935
Launched: 24 March 1936
Completed: 29 June 1937
Fate: Scuttled, 2 May 1942
General characteristics as built
Class and type:Type 1934A-class destroyer
Displacement:2,171 metric tons (2,137 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:1,825 nmi (3,380 km; 2,100 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement:325
Armament:5 × 1 - 12.7 cm (5 in) guns
2 × 2 - 3.7 cm (1.5 in) guns
6 × 1 - 2 cm (0.79 in) guns
2 × 4 - 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes
60 mines
32–64 depth charges, 4 throwers and 6 individual racks
Service record
Commanders: Theodor Detmers

Z7 Hermann Schoemann was a Type 1934A-class destroyer built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in the mid-1930s.

Design and description

Hermann Schoemann had an overall length of 119 meters (390 ft 5 in) and was 114 meters (374 ft 0 in) long at the waterline. The ship had a beam of 11.3 meters (37 ft 1 in), and a maximum draft of 4.23 meters (13 ft 11 in). She displaced 2,171 metric tons (2,137 long tons) at standard and 3,110 metric tons (3,060 long tons) at deep load. The Wagner geared steam turbines were designed to produce 70,000 shaft horsepower (52,199 kW) which would propel the ship at 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam was provided to the turbines by six high-pressure Wagner boilers[1] with superheaters. Hermann Schoemann carried a maximum of 752 metric tons (740 long tons) of fuel oil which was intended to give a range of 4,400 nmi (8,100 km; 5,100 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph), but the ship proved top-heavy in service and 30% of the fuel had to be retained as ballast low in the ship.[2] The effective range proved to be only 1,825 nmi (3,380 km; 2,100 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).[1]

Hermann Schoemann carried five 12.7 cm SK C/34 guns in single mounts with gun shields, two each superimposed, fore and aft. The fifth gun was carried on top of the rear deckhouse. Her anti-aircraft armament consisted of four 3.7 cm SK C/30 guns in two twin mounts abreast the rear funnel and six 2 cm C/30 guns in single mounts. The ship carried eight above-water 53.3-centimeter (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in two power-operated mounts.[1][3] Four depth charge throwers were mounted on the sides of the rear deckhouse and they were supplemented by six racks for individual depth charges on the sides of the stern. Enough depth charges were carried for either two or four patterns of 16 charges each.[4] Mine rails were fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 60 mines.[1]

Career

The ship was ordered on 9 January 1935 and laid down at DeSchiMAG, Bremen on 7 September 1935 as yard number W901. She was launched on 16 July 1936 and completed on 9 September 1937.[5] On May 2, 1942, the ship was sent to intercept the crippled British cruiser Edinburgh along with fellow destroyers Z24 and Z25. The Edinburgh opened fire first, and with her second salvo, straddled the Schoemann. The damage was too severe to return to base, and the ship was scuttled by her crew.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Groener, p. 199
  2. Whitley 1983, p. 26
  3. Whitley 1983, p. 23
  4. Whitley 1983, p. 299
  5. Whitley 1983, p. 270

References

External links