At the outbreak of the Second World War Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine had 21 destroyers (Ger: 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).^{[note 1]} 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.^[3]

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.^[1] 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.

Zerstörer 1934

Zerstörer 1934
Class overview
Builders	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Built	1934–1935
In commission	1937–1947
Completed	4
Lost	3
Scrapped	1
General characteristics
Class and type	Zerstörer 1934
Displacement	3,155 long tons (3,206 t) maximum
Length	119 m (390 ft 5 in) o/a 114 m (374 ft) w/l
Beam	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.23 m (13 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 PS (51,000 kW; 69,000 shp) 2 shafts
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) at 19 kn (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	325
Armament	5 × 12.7 cm (5 in) guns 4 × 3.7 cm guns 6 × 2 cm guns 8 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines

This class of four ships was the first German destroyer class. It was designed around a new type of engine, using high pressure steam. This should have allowed higher speed, while saving space and crewmembers. The engine was however so complicated and prone to breakdown, that it forced the navy to assign even more very highly qualified personnel on board to operate and service them. As a result of stability problems, the range of the ships had to be restricted by navy regulations, allowing them to use only half of the fuel carried, to prevent the ships from becoming too light. The bow proved to be of faulty design, resulting in the ships being rather wet in heavy seas. This was fixed by rebuilding all four ship of the class before 1939.^[4] Four destroyers were laid down between October 1934 and January 1935. Only one ship survived the war. The ships were named after German navy personnel killed in World War I.

The ships were:

Zerstörer 1934A

Zerstörer 1934A.
Class overview
Builders	AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen Germaniawerft, Kiel Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Built	1935–1936
In commission	1937–1958
Completed	12
Lost	7
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 1934A-class destroyer
Displacement	2,223 metric tons (2,188 long tons)
Length	119 m (390 ft 5 in) o/a 114 m (374 ft) w/l
Beam	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draft	4.23 m (13 ft 11 in)
Installed power	70,000 PS (51,000 kW; 69,000 shp)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 × Wagner geared steam turbines 6 × water-tube boilers
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	2,040 nmi (3,780 km; 2,350 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	325
Armament	5 × 12.7 cm (5 in) guns 4 (later 14) × 3.7 cm guns 6 (later 10) × 2 cm guns 8 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines

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 in the Second Battle of Narvik. Five survived the war.

Zerstörer 1936

Zerstörer 1936.
Class overview
Builders	DeSchiMAG
Operators	Kriegsmarine  Soviet Navy
Preceded by	Type 1934A class
Succeeded by	Type 1936A class
Built	1936–1939
In service	1938–1956
In commission	1938–1949
Planned	26
Completed	6
Lost	5
Scrapped	1
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 1936-class destroyer
Displacement	2,806 tonnes (2,762 long tons) (standard)
Length	123.40–125.10 meters (404 ft 10 in – 410 ft 5 in) o/a
Beam	11.75 m (38 ft 7 in)
Draft	4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
Installed power	70,000 PS (51,000 kW; 69,000 shp)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × Wagner geared steam turbine sets 6 × Wagner water-tube boilers
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	2,090 nmi (3,870 km; 2,410 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	323
Armament	5 × 1 – 12.7 cm (5.0 in) guns 2 × 2 – 3.7 cm guns 7 × 1 – 2 cm guns 2 × 4 – 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines

These 6 ships (of 26 planned) ordered under the 1935 Program were improved and enlarged versions of the 1934 and 1934A classes. Most of the serious faults of the earlier ships had been resolved: engine reliability and the structural integrity was much improved and they were much better seagoing ships, shipping less water through an improvement in the design of the bows. Despite this, five of this newer type were also lost at Narvik in April 1940.

Zerstörer 1936A "Narvik"

Class overview
Builders	DeSchiMAG
Built	1938–1941
In commission	1940–1958
Completed	8
Lost	4
General characteristics
Class and type	Zerstörer 1936A (Narvik-class)
Displacement	3,605 long tons (3,663 t) maximum
Length	127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a 121.90 m (399 ft 11 in) w/l
Beam	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught	4.65 m (15 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts
Speed	37.5 knots (69.5 km/h; 43.2 mph)
Range	2,180 nmi (4,040 km; 2,510 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	330
Armament	4 or 5 × 15 cm (5.9 in) guns 4 (later 10) × 3.7 cm guns 8 (later 20) × 2 cm guns 8 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines 4 × depth charge launchers

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

These ships reverted to the traditional German practice of giving torpedo ships numbers rather than names. Four survived the war.

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)

Z39 under US flag as DD-939 in 1945
Class overview
Builders	DeSchiMAG Germaniawerft, Kiel
Built	1940–1943
In commission	1942–1964
Completed	7
Lost	1
General characteristics
Class and type	Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)
Displacement	3,700 long tons (3,800 t) maximum
Length	127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a 121.90 m (399 ft 11 in) w/l
Beam	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught	4.62 m (15 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp 2 shafts
Speed	37.5 knots (69.5 km/h; 43.2 mph)
Range	2,240 nmi (4,150 km; 2,580 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	330
Armament	5 × 15 cm (5.9 in) guns 4 (later 14) × 3.7 cm guns 12 (later 18) × 2 cm guns 8 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 60 mines 4 × depth charge launchers

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.

Zerstörer 1936B

The main armament of this class reduced back to single mounted 128 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.

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.

Zerstörer 1936C

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.^[6][7]

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 were not actually ordered – the concept was developed further into the Spähkreuzer (see Type 1936B above).

Zerstörer 1938B

Model of the Zerstörer 1938B class

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.

Zerstörer 1942

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 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) and an operating radius of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi).^[8] 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.^[7]

Zerstörer 1944

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.^[9][10]

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.^[9] A further two ships (Z.57 and Z.58) were ordered from Germaniawerft at Kiel, but were cancelled before construction started.^[10]

Zerstörer 1945

Model of the German Zerstörer Class 1945

Project for high-speed design reverting to steam-turbine propulsion. Unbuilt.^[11]

Zerstorer 1937J

A project for a high-speed design with a long range.^[12]

Destroyer sized craft

Class overview
Name	Flottentorpedoboot 1939 (Elbing-class)
Builders	Schichau
In commission	1941–1944
Completed	15
Lost	11
General characteristics
Displacement	1,755 long tons (1,783 t) maximum
Length	102.50 m (336 ft 3 in) o/a 97 m (318 ft 3 in) w/l
Beam	10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draught	3.22 m (10 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 × Wagner geared turbines, 32,560 shp 2 shafts
Speed	32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Range	2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement	205
Armament	4 × 10.5 cm (4 in) guns 4 × 3.7 cm guns 9 × 2 cm guns 6 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 50 mines

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.

Captured ships

Some destroyers were captured and used by the Germans; for full list see Torpedoboot Ausland.

See also

• List of ships of World War II
• List of ship classes of World War II

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Gröner, Erich (1990). German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 1: Major Surface Warships. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-790-9.
• Lenton, H.T. (1975). German Warships of the Second World War. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0356046613.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Sieche, Erwin (1980). "Germany". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 218–254. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
• Whitley, M. J. (1991). German Destroyers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-302-8.

External links

• Kriegsmarine destroyers