At the outbreak of the Second World War Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine had 21 destroyers (German: Zerstörer) in service, while another one was just being completed.[1] These 22 vessels – comprising 3 classes (Type 34, 34A and 36) – had all been built in the 1930s, making them modern vessels (no destroyers remained in German hands following the close of the First World War). Including that final pre-war vessel, 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 Armistice with the Allies 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 as destroyers. During World War II, destroyers were administratively grouped into one of several destroyer flotillas.
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.
See main article: Type 1934 destroyers.
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 Named after Leberecht Maass[4] | |
| Z2 Georg Thiele | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 25 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 Commissioned: 27 February 1937 Fate: beached on 13 April 1940, after suffering serious damage during the Battles of Narvik Named after Georg Thiele | |
| Z3 Max Schultz | 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 Named after Max Schultz | |
| Z4 Richard Beitzen | Laid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 7 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 Commissioned: 13 May 1937 Fate: scrapped 1947 Named after Richard Beitzen |
See main article: Type 1934A destroyers.
| Z5 Paul Jacobi | Laid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 15 July 1935Launched: 24 March 1936 Commissioned: 29 June 1937 Fate: Transferred to France as war reparation Desaix, scrapped 1958 Named after Paul Jacobi | |
| Z6 Theodor Riedel | Laid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 18 July 1935Launched: 22 April 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1937 Fate: Transferred to France as the Kleber, scrapped 1958 Named after Theodor Riedel | |
| Z7 Hermann Schoemann | Laid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 7 September 1935 Launched: 16 July 1936 Commissioned: 9 September 1937 Fate: sunk 2 May 1942 by the British cruiser Edinburgh Named after Hermann Schoemann | |
| Z8 Bruno Heinemann | Laid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 14 January 1936Launched: 15 September 1936 Commissioned: 8 January 1938 Fate: sunk 25 January 1942 by a mine near Calais Named after Bruno Heinemann, killed during the Wilhelmshaven mutiny | |
| Z9 Wolfgang Zenker | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 23 March 1935 Launched: 27 March 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940 Named after Wolfgang Zenker, killed during the Wilhelmshaven mutiny | |
| Z10 Hans Lody | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1 April 1935Launched: 14 May 1936 Commissioned: 13 September 1938 Fate: Taken over by Great Britain after the war and used as a trials ship, scrapped 1946–1949 Named after Carl Hans Lody, unusually not a captain of a vessel but had been spying in Britain. | |
| 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 Named after Bernd von Arnim | |
| Z12 Erich Giese | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 3 May 1935Launched: 12 March 1937 Commissioned: 4 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 Named after Erich Giese | |
| Z13 Erich Koellner | Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 12 October 1935 Launched: 18 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 Named after Erich Koellner | |
| Z14 Friedrich Ihn | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 5 November 1935 Commissioned: 6 April 1938 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Prytkiy (Прыткий) scrapped 1952 Named after Friedrich Ihn | |
| Z15 Erich Steinbrinck | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 24 September 1936 Commissioned: 31 May 1938 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Pylkiy (Пылкий) scrapped 1958 Named after Erich Steinbrinck | |
| Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt | Laid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 14 November 1935 Launched: 21 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 July 1938 Fate: sunk 31 December 1942 by during battle of the Barents Sea Named after Friedrich Eckoldt |
See main article: Type 1936 destroyers.
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 19 August 1937 Commissioned: 29 August 1938 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 (Narvik) Named after Diether von Roeder | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 1 December 1937 Commissioned: 8 October 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940 Named after Hans Lüdemann | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 5 October 1936 Launched: 22 December 1937 Commissioned: 12 January 1939 Fate: beached on 13 April 1940 Named after Hermann Künne | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 September 1937 Launched: 15 June 1938 Commissioned: 21 March 1939 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Prochnyi (Прочный) scrapped 1956 Named after Karl Galster | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 December 1937 Launched: 20 August 1938 Commissioned: 10 June 1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940 Named after Wilhelm Heidkamp | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 3 January 1938 Launched: 20 September 1938 Commissioned: 24 September 1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940 Named after Anton Schmitt |
See main article: Type 1936A destroyer.
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 Commissioned: 15 September 1940 Fate: scrapped after 1951 | |
| Z24 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 2 January 1939 Launched: 7 March 1940 Commissioned: 26 October 1940 Fate: sunk 25 August 1944 | |
| Z25 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 February 1939 Launched: 16 March 1940 Commissioned: 30 November 1940 Fate: scrapped 1961 | |
| Z26 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 April 1939 Launched: 2 April 1940 Commissioned: 11 January 1941 Fate: sunk 29 March 1942 by British cruiser Trinidad and destroyers Eclipse and Fury | |
| 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 |
When war broke out in 1939, planned new destroyer classes were cancelled and twelve additional 1936A vessels (Z.31 to Z.42, although the last three were to be cancelled) were ordered with slight modifications to speed construction and save materials. "Mob" stands for "Mobilmachung" (Mobilisation). The 150 mm twin turrets had been manufactured for 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.
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 September 1940 Launched: 15 April 1941 Commissioned: 11 April 1942 Fate: scrapped 1958 | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 November 1940 Launched: 15 August 1941 Commissioned: 15 September 1942 Fate: sunk 9 June 1944 (wrecked while pursued by Canadian destroyers and) | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 22 December 1940 Launched: 15 September 1941 Commissioned: 6 February 1943 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Provornyi (Проворный), sunk as target ship 1961 | ||
| Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1941 Launched: 5 May 1942 Commissioned: 5 June 1943 Fate: scuttled 26 March 1946 | ||
| Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 24 February 1941 Commissioned: 16 July 1942 Fate: scrapped 1949 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 Commissioned: 21 August 1943 Fate: transferred to the US Navy at the end of the war and designated DD-939; transferred to France 1947, scrapped 1953 |
See main article: Type 1936B destroyer.
Eight ships to this design were ordered, but the orders for Z.40, Z.41 and Z.42 (all three ordered from Germaniawerft at Kiel) were replaced by orders for three Spähkreuzer ("scout cruisers"), to be numbered Sp.1, Sp.2 and Sp.3 respectively. Two ships (Z.44 and Z.45) were never completed, being suspended in 1944 and scuttled incomplete 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 mine, Gulf of Finland | |
| Z36 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 September 1941 Launched: 15 May 1943 Commissioned: 19 February 1944 Fate: sunk 12 December 1944 mine, Gulf of Finland | |
| 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: scuttled incomplete 20 July 1946 | |
| Z45 | Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1942 Launched: 15 April 1944 Commissioned: Fate: scuttled incomplete 20 July 1946 |
See main article: Type 1936C destroyer. Five ships of this class were ordered in 1942 and 1943 (Z.46 – Z.50), all from A.G. Weser at Bremen; none were launched, just two were started – Z.46 and Z.47 – and both were bombed by Allied aircraft while under construction and were scrapped on the slipways in 1945. This design was 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 calibre anti-aircraft guns would have also been increased.[5] [6]
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 were not actually ordered – the concept was developed further into the Spähkreuzer (see Type 1936B above).
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.
Experimental testbed 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 and an operating radius of .[7] One ship, Z51, was laid down in 1943 and launched in 1944, but was sunk by Allied bombers on 21 March 1945 while fitting out.[6]
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 Flak 40 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 guns in seven twin mounts, with eight torpedo tubes.[8] [9]
Five of these ships (Z.52–Z.56) were ordered from A.G. Weser at Bremen and were laid down in 1943, but none were completed, being cancelled in July 1944 and broken up on the slips.[8] A further two ships (Z.57 and Z.58) were ordered from Germaniawerft at Kiel, but were cancelled before construction started.[9]
See main article: Type 1945 destroyer. Project for high-speed design reverting to steam-turbine propulsion. Unbuilt.[10]
See main article: Type 1937J destroyer. A project for a high-speed design with a long range.[11]
See main article: German torpedo boats of World War II. The Kriegsmarine had several torpedo boat classes with displacements between 1,000 and 1,300 tons (for example the Möwe-class Fleet Torpedo boats and Torpedo boat type 35). They sat in size 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.
See main article: Type 39 torpedo boat. The first of the fleet vessels, they were comparable in most respects – size, armament, and use – to standard British destroyer types. Fifteen were laid down between 1940 and 1942, in the Schichau shipyard in Elbing (now Elbląg) and from that the Allies referred to them as the Elbing-class.
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 capitulation 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. These three 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; however, the order was subsequently cancelled without any building having started.
See main article: Torpedoboot Ausland. Several destroyer-sized ships were captured by the Germans and put into service as Torpedoboot Ausland.
These 10 fleet escort vessels of the F class were the German equivalent to the Allied destroyer escorts and frigates.
Some destroyers were captured and used by the Germans; for full list see Torpedoboot Ausland.
The Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms. Gerard Callenburgh was built by RDM Rotterdam and launched on 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. She was commissioned as the ZH1 on 11 October 1942. The Germans retained most of the Dutch armament and equipment. The ZH1 spent most of her life on trials in the Baltic, but transferred to Western France via the English Channel in November 1943. When the western allies invaded Normandy in 1944, the German destroyers based in western France attempted to interdict the invasion armada. The German squadron was intercepted by an Allied force – the 10th Destroyer Flotilla (HMS Tartar, Ashanti, Eskimo, Javelin, HMCS Haida, Huron, and ORP Błyskawica, Piorun). In the night action, ZH1 was torpedoed and sunk by Ashanti on 9 June 1944; 33 men were lost.
The hull of the French Le Hardi-class destroyer L'Opiniatre was captured intact and 16% complete in Bordeaux. The Kriegsmarine intended to complete her for service. Since French armament was not available, and for standardisation with the rest of the German Navy, 127 mm 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[12]
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.
Hermes detected and depth charged the Royal Navy submarine HMS Splendid off Capri, Italy, on 21 April 1943, forcing it to surrender; Splendid was scuttled by her crew. Hermes was damaged by air attacks off Tunisia. Hermes had to be scuttled in La Goulette, Tunis, on 7 May 1943.
Four out of six of Norway's s were captured following Germany's conquest of Norway., renamed Löwe and, renamed Panther were captured at Kristiansand., renamed Tiger and, renamed Leopard, were captured while still under construction, and completed by the Germans. In Kriegsmarine service, they were classified as torpedo boats.
In January 1945, Löwe was one of the escorts for the MV Wilhelm Gustloff on her last voyage. When Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed and sunk, she stood alongside and rescued 427 of her passengers and crew. After the war, the ships were returned to Norway and given back their original names, and remained in service until the late 1950s.
The Norwegian, HNoMS Troll was captured by the Germans in Florø on 18 May 1940. Following Norway's surrender, she had been ordered to sail to the UK with her sister, HNoMS Draug, but due to lack of crew and coal, she was unable to do so. Once placed under the German flag, she was considered too old and obsolete for military service, and was converted into a distillation and steam supply ship, having her whole superstructure removed, and was stationed at Bergen. She retained her name throughout the war. She survived the war and was returned to Norway, but her condition and age made her unfit for future service and was sold for scrap in 1949.
The Royal Yugoslav Navy destroyer leader, KB Dubrovnik, was captured by Italy in the Bay of Kotor on 17 April 1941. She was recommissioned in the Regia Marina as Premuda, and served in the Mediterranean Sea until 1943. She was undergoing repairs in Genoa when Italy surrendered and joined the Allies. With this, she was seized by the Germans and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as TA32. In 1944, her repairs were completed with German modifications and soon saw action shelling Allied positions along the Italian coast. While on minelaying duty off Genoa, she engaged the American destroyer,, but escaped undamaged. On 18 March 1945, while on minelaying duty off Corsica, she was engaged by 2 British destroyers in what became the Battle of the Ligurian Sea. While both her escorts were sunk, she escaped with a damaged rudder. With the Allies advancing further into Northern Italy, she was scuttled in Genoa on 24 April 1945, and her crew retreated. She was raised and broken up in 1950.
The Royal Yugoslav Navy, KB Beograd, was captured by Italy in the Bay of Kotor on 17 April 1941. She was recommissioned in the Regia Marina as Sebenico, and served in the Mediterranean Sea until 1943. Following Italy's surrender and joining the Allies, she was captured by the Germans in Venice on 9 September 1943. She was then recommissioned into the Kriegsmarine as TA43. However, at the time of her capture she was damaged and not operational. While being repaired, her anti-aircraft armament was improved and reentered active service in February 1945. She operated in the northern Adriatic Sea, but saw little action other than escort work and minelaying. Sources differ on her fate. One claim is that while docked in Trieste, she was sunk by artillery fire of Yugoslav forces on 30 April 1945. Another is that she was scuttled by her crew in Trieste on 1 May 1945. She remained sunk in Trieste until 1947 when she was raised and broken up.
The Regia Marina, Turbine, was captured by the Germans in Piraeus on 8 September 1943, following Italy's Armistice with the Allies. She was recommissioned as TA14 and operated in the Aegean Sea. Her anti-aircraft armament was upgraded during her time in German service. She operated as an escort ship off the Greek coast. On 19 June 1944, she was badly damaged by an explosion and sent to Salamis for repairs. While docked in Salamis, on 16 September 1944, she was sunk by American aircraft rockets before repairs were completed.