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 and type: Zerstörer 1936B
Displacement: 3,540 long tons (3,600 t) maximum[1]
Length:
  • 127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a
  • 121.5 m (398 ft 7 in) w/l[1]
Beam: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)[1]
Draught: 4.21 m (13 ft 10 in)[1]
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp
  • 2 shafts[1]
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 6,200,000 metres (6,200 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Williamson & Palmer 2003, pp. 22–23
  2. 1 2 "Z35 History". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Type 1936B destroyer class history". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk (2010). "German Destroyers". Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 D., Tony (2010). "Germany 12.7 cm/45 (5") SK C/34". navweaps.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.

Bibliography

Coordinates: 59°34′N 24°49′E / 59.567°N 24.817°E / 59.567; 24.817

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