German destroyer Z35
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | Z35 |
| Builder: | AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen |
| Laid down: | 6 June 1941 |
| Launched: | 2 October 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 22 September 1943 |
| Fate: | Sunk 12 December 1944, while laying a minefield off Estonia in the Gulf of Finland |
| Notes: | Captained by Kapitänleutnant Niels Bätge[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Zerstörer 1936B |
| Displacement: | 3,540 long tons (3,600 t) maximum[1] |
| Length: | |
| Beam: | 12 m (39 ft 4 in)[1] |
| Draught: | 4.21 m (13 ft 10 in)[1] |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)[1] |
| Range: | 2,600 nmi (4,800 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)[1] |
| Complement: | 330[1] |
| Armament: |
|
Z35 was a Type 1936B destroyer of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was laid down on 6 June 1941 at AG Weser (Deschimag) in Bremen, launched on 2 October 1942 and commissioned on 22 September 1943. Her service was with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in the Baltic Sea under the command of Kapitänleutnant Niels Bätge.[1][2] On 12 December 1944, while laying a minefield off Estonia in the Gulf of Finland, she struck a German mine and sank.[2]
Design
Z35 was a Type 1936B-class destroyer, which meant that the twin 15 cm (5.9 in) turrets positioned on the bow and stern of the ship were removed.[3] This was because the older Type 1936A class of destroyers were deemed less stable.[3] The twin turrets, which were planned to have been used on the O-class battlecruisers but diverted due to time constraints were removed and replaced with five single 12.7 centimetres (5.0 in) turrets, along with more anti-aircraft defences.[3] Besides that, the ship retained the main characteristics of the 1936A class. They displaced 2,527 tonnes (2,487 long tons), and were manned by 321 sailors and officers.[4] Although they had a maximum speed of 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph), their range was 6,200 metres (6.2 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).[4] Her main armament of five 12.7 cm SK C/34 naval guns[4] could be depressed to −10° and raised to 30°.[5] They had an arc of fire of 360°, meaning that they could rotate a full circle, able to fire at any given point.[5] The guns fired 28-kilogram (62 lb) high-explosive shells at a muzzle velocity of 830 metres per second (2,700 ft/s) to a range of 17,400 metres (19,000 yd).[5] The destroyer also carried four 3.7 cm (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns and six 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns in pairs.[4] She had eight 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes and, when fitted as a minelayer, could carry 76 mines.[4]
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Williamson & Palmer 2003, pp. 22–23
- 1 2 "Z35 History". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Type 1936B destroyer class history". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk (2010). "German Destroyers". Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
Bibliography
- Williamson, Gordon; Palmer, Ian (2003). German Destroyers 1939–45 (2003 ed.). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-504-4. - Total pages: 48
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Coordinates: 59°34′N 24°49′E / 59.567°N 24.817°E