What is German World War Ii Destroyers?

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the German Navy, the Kriegsmarine, had 21 destroyers (Ger: Zerstörer). These had all been built in the 1930s, making them modern vessels. A further 19 were brought into service during the war.

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.

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.

Zerstörer 1934

Zerstörer 1934
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3,155 tons (maximum)
Length:	119 m (overall); 114 m (waterline)
Beam:	11.3 m
Draught:	4.23 m
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h)
Range:	1,900 sea miles at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	325
Armament:	5 x 127 mm 4 x 37 mm 6 x 20 mm 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 60 mines
Armour:

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:

Z1 Leberecht Maas	Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 15 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 Commissioned: 14 January 1937 Fate: sunk after friendly fire bomb hits on 22 February 1940, during Operation Wikinger[1]
Z2 Georg Thiele	Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 25 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 Commissioned: 27 February 1937 Fate: sunk on 13 April 1940
Z3 Max Schulz	Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 2 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 Commissioned: 8 April 1937 Fate: sunk as a result of friendly fire bomb hits and striking mines on 22 February 1940, during Operation Wikinger[2]
Z4 Richard Beitzen	Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 7 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 Commissioned: 13 May 1937 Fate: scrapped 1947

Zerstörer 1934A

Zerstörer 1934A
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3,110 tons (maximum)
Length:	119 m (overall); 114 metres (waterline)
Beam:	11.3 metres
Draught:	4.23 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 72,100 shp
Speed:	36.5 knots (0 km/h)
Range:	2,040 nautical miles (0 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	325
Armament:	5 x 127 mm 4 x 37 mm (later 14) 6 x 20 mm (later 10) 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 60 mines
Armour:

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 Commissioned: 29 June 1937 Fate: scrapped 1958
Z6 Theodor Riedel	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 18 July 1935 Launched: 22 April 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1937 Fate: scrapped 1958
Z7 Hermann Schoemann	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 7 September 1935 Launched: 16 July 1936 Commissioned: 9 September 1937 Fate: sunk 2 May 1942
Z8 Bruno Heinemann	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1936 Launched: 15 September 1936 Commissioned: 8 January 1938 Fate: sunk 25 January 1942
Z9 Wolfgang Zenker	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 23 March 1935 Launched: 27 March 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940
Z10 Hans Lody	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1 April 1935 Launched: 14 May 1936 Commissioned: 13 September 1938 Fate: scrapped 1946 - 1949
Z11 Bernd von Arnim	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 26 April 1935 Launched: 8 July 1936 Commissioned: 6 December 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940
Z12 Erich Giese	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 3 May 1935 Launched: 12 March 1937 Commissioned: 4 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940
Z13 Erich Koellner	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 12 October 1935 Launched: 18 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940
Z14 Friedirch Ihn	Laid down: Blohm & Voß Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 5 November 1935 Commissioned: 6 April 1938 Fate: scrapped 1952
Z15 Erich Steinbrinck	Laid down: Blohm & Voß Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 24 September 1936 Commissioned: 31 May 1938 Fate: scrapped 1958
Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt	Laid down: Blohm & Voß Hamburg, 14 November 1935 Launched: 21 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 July 1938 Fate: sunk 31 December 1942

Zerstörer 1936

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 reliablility 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.

Zerstörer 1936
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3,415 tons (maximum)
Length:	123.4 m (overall); 120 metres (waterline)
Beam:	11.75 metres
Draught:	4.50 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 74,500 shp
Speed:	40.45 knots
Range:	2,050 nautical miles (0 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	325
Armament:	5 x 127 mm 4 x 37 mm 4 x 20 mm 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

None of the class survived the war: all but one ship was sunk during the battles of Narvik.

Z17 Diether von Roeder	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 19 August 1937 Commissioned: 29 August 1938 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 (Narvik)
Z18 Hans Lüdemann	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 1 December 1937 Commissioned: 08 October 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940
Z19 Hermann Künne	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 5 October 1936 Launched: 22.12.1937 Commissioned: 12.01.1939 Fate: beached on 13 April 1940
Z20 Karl Galster	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 September 1937 Launched: 15.06.1938 Commissioned: 21.03.1939 Fate: scrapped 1956
Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 December 1937 Launched: 20 August 1938 Commissioned: 10 June1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940
Z22 Anton Schmitt	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 3 January 1938 Launched: 20 September 1938 Commissioned: 24 September 1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940

Zerstörer 1936A "Narvik"

Main article: Narvik class destroyer

Eight destroyers intended to carry new 150 mm (5.9") 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.

Zerstörer 1936A
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3605 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 m (overall); 121.9 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.65 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	37.50 knots
Range:	2180 sea miles at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	330
Armament:	4 or 5 x 150 mm 4 x 37 mm (later 10) 8 x 20 mm (later 20) 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

Four survived the war.

Z23	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 November 1938 Launched: 15 December 1939 Commissioned: 15 September 1940 Fate: scrapped after 1951
Z24	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 02 January 1939 Launched: 7 March 1940 Commissioned: 26 October 1940 Fate: sunk 25 August 1944
Z25	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15.02.1939 Launched: 16 March 1940 Commissioned: 30 November 1940 Fate: scrapped 1958
Z26	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 01 April 1939 Launched: 02 April 1940 Commissioned: 11 January 1940 Fate: sunk 29.03.1942
Z27	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 27 December 1939 Launched: 1 August 1940 Commissioned: 26 February 1941 Fate: sunk 28 December 1943
Z28	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 30 November 1939 Launched: 20 August 1940 Commissioned: 9 August 1941 Fate: sunk 6 March 1945
Z29	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 21 March 1940 Launched: 15 October 1940 Commissioned: 25 June 1941 Fate: scuttled 16 December 1946
Z30	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 April 1940 Launched: 8 December 1940 Commissioned: 15 November 1941 Fate: scrapped 1949

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)

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 build "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.

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3700 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 m (overall); 121.9 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.62 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	37.5 knots (0 km/h)
Range:	2240 sea miles at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	330
Armament:	5 x 150 mm (5.9") 4 x 37 mm (later 14) 12 x 20 mm (later 18) 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4 depth charge launchers
Armour:

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 Commissioned: 11 April 1942 Fate: scrapped 1958
Z32	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 November 1940 Launched: 15 August 1941 Commissioned: 15 September 1942 Fate: sunk 09 June 1944
Z33	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 22 December 1940 Launched: 15 September 1941 Commissioned: 6 February 1943 Fate: scrapped 1961
Z34	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1941 Launched: 5 May 1942 Commissioned: 5 June 1943 Fate: scuttled 26 March 1946
Z37	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 24 February 1941 Commissioned: 16 July 1942 Fate: scrapped 1949
Z38	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 Commissioned: 20 March 1943 Fate: transferred to Britain at the end of the war; renamed HMS Nonsuch; scrapped 1949
Z39	Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 Commissioned: 21 August 1943 Fate: scrapped February 1964

Zerstörer 1936B

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.

Zerstörer 1936B
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3,540 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 m (overall); 121.5 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.21 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	36.5 knots (0 km/h)
Range:	2,600 sea miles at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	330
Armament:	5 x 127 mm 4 x 37 mm (later 10) 16 x 20 mm 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 76 mines 4 depth charge launchers
Armour:

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 Commissioned: 22 September 1943 Fate: sunk 12 December 1944
Z36	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 September 1941 Launched: 15 May 1943 Commissioned: 19 February 1944 Fate: sunk 12 December 1944
Z43	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 May 1942 Launched: 22 September 1943 Commissioned: 24 March 1944 Fate: scuttled 3 May 1945
Z44	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1942 Launched: 20 January 1944 Commissioned: Fate: scrapped 1948-1949
Z45	Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1942 Launched: 15 April 1944 Commissioned: Fate: scrapped in shipyard in 1946

Zerstörer 1936C

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. Number of smaller caliber anti-aircraft guns would have also been increased.

Zerstörer 1938A/Ac

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.

Zerstörer 1938B

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 Two, all were cancelled

Captured Ships

Several destroyers were captured and used by the Germans Ref in German Language

ZH1

• ex-HMNLS Gerard Callenburgh - built by RDM Rotterdam - 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, HMS Ashanti, HMS Eskimo, HMS Javelin, HMCS Haida, HMCS Huron and ORP Błyskawica). ZH1 was torpedoed and sunk by Ashanti on 9 June 1944, 33 men were lost. (see Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer)

ZG3 (Hermes)

The Greek destroyer Vasilefs Georgios was captured in a damaged condition after the fall of Greece, repaired in Greece with assistance from Germaniawerft and commissioned by the Kriegsmarine as the ZG3 or Hermes. She was the only major surface unit in the Mediterranean and was involved in convoys to North Africa and the Aegean. She sank the British submarine HMS Splendid off Capri on 21 April 1943. She was damaged by air attacks off Tunisia and was scuttled in La Goulette, Tunis on 7 May 1943.

Torpedoboot Ausland

Several destroyer sized ships were captured by the Germans and put into service. Please see article for details

Destroyer sized craft

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.

Flottentorpedoboot 1939 (Elbing class)

Flottentorpedoboot 1939
General characteristics
Type:	Fleet Torpedo Boat
Displacement:	1,755 tons (maximum)
Length:	102.50 m (overall); 97 metres (waterline)
Beam:	10 metres
Draught:	3.22 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 32,560 shp
Speed:	32.5 knots (0 km/h)
Range:	2,400 sea miles at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement:	205
Armament:	4 x 105 mm 4 x 37 mm 9 x 20 mm 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes 50 mines
Armour:

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.

Flottentorpedoboot 1940

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.

Flottentorpedoboot 1941

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.

Flottentorpedoboot 1944

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.

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