German destroyer Z44

History
Nazi Germany
Name: Z44
Builder: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen
Laid down: 1942
Launched: 20 January 1944
Commissioned: Never commissioned
Fate: Badly damaged during an air attack on 29 July 1944, shortly before the ship was planned to be commissioned. She was later scrapped between April 1948 and February 1949.
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:

Z44 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 20 January 1944. She was heavily damaged in an air attack on 29 July 1944, prior to the planned date of her commissioning in August 1944. Z44 was eventually scrapped between April 1948 and February 1949.[1]

Design

Z44 was a Type 1936B-class destroyer, which meant that the twin 15.9 cm (6.3 in) turrets positioned on the bow and stern of the ship were removed.[2] This was because the older Type 1936A class of destroyers were deemed less stable.[2] Thetwin 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. They displaced 2,527 tonnes (2,487 long tons), and were manned by 321 sailors and officers.[3] Although they had a maximum speed of 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph), their range was 6,200 metres (6.2 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. ↑ "Z44 History". Kriegsmarine. Retrieved 4 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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