German destroyer Z45

History
Nazi Germany
Name: Z45
Builder: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen
Laid down: 1942
Launched: 15 April 1944
Commissioned: Never commissioned
Fate: Scrapped in shipyard in 1946.
General characteristics
Class and type: Zerstörer 1936B
Displacement: 3,540 long tons (3,600 t) maximum
Length:
  • 127 m (416 ft 8 in) o/a
  • 121.5 m (398 ft 7 in) w/l
Beam: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught: 4.21 m (13 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp
  • 2 shafts
Speed: 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range: 2,600 nmi (4,800 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement: 330
Armament:

Z45 was a German naval warship which operated for a short time during the latter period of World War II. She was a Type 1936B destroyer, laid down during 1942 at shipyard AG Weser (Deschimag) in Bremen and launched on 15 April 1944. Work on the ship was cancelled as World War II drew to a close. Z45 was eventually scrapped in harbor in 1946.[1]

Design

Z45 was a Type 1936B-class destroyer, which meant that the twin 15.9 cm (6.3 in) turrest positioned on the bow and stern of the ship were removed.[2] This was because the older Type 1936A class of destroyers were deemed unstable.[2] 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.[2] Besides that, the ship retained the main characteristics of the 1936A class.

Z45 displaced 2,527 tonnes (2,487 long tons), and were manned by 321 sailors and officers.[3] Although she had a maximum speed of 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph), their range was 2,994 miles (4,818 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).[3] Her main armament of five 12.7 cm SK C/34 naval guns[3] could be depressed to −10° and raised to 30°.[4] They had an arc of fire of 360°, meaning that they could rotate a full circle, able to fire at any given point.[4] 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).[4] 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.[3] She had eight 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes and, when fitted as a minelayer, could carry 76 mines.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Z45 History". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Type 1936B destroyer class history". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk (2010). "German Destroyers". Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 D., Tony (2010). "Germany 12.7 cm/45 (5") SK C/34". navweaps.com. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
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