NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Zmaj Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Змај [Zmaj]		118	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany	1928	22.6.1929	20.8.1930	captured by Germany 17.4.1941 (Drache)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1870
Displacement full, t	2084
Length, m	76.5 pp 83.0 oa
Breadth, m	12.7
Draught, m	3.50 mean 4.00 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 MAN diesels
Power, h. p.	3260
Max speed, kts	15
Fuel, t	diesel oil 140
Endurance, nm(kts)	4000(10)
Armament	2 x 1 - 83/52 Škoda M.29, 2 x 2 - 40/65 Škoda, 1 - 2 seaplanes (Moth DH.60)
Complement	145

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

hangar can contain 1 Moth seaplane, large land-based seaplanes were serviced on deck. Ship plane and land-based seaplanes were handled by 6.5t crane. There are well-found facilities for repair and maintenance of aircraft.

Project history

Ordered in early 1928 as depot ship for 10 seaplanes and fast seaplanes rescue ship. One of first specialised purpose-built ships of similar assignment. Zmaj had original construction subsequently developed in designs of German ships Krischan and Gunter Plüschow. High-freeboard hull (7.65m amidships), with long forecastle. Amidships there was hangar containing 1 De Havilland DH.60 Moth, and in aft part spacious shipway-deck on which it was possible to lift seaplanes for repair. For seaplanes handling 6.5t crane served, installed on a break of forecastle. Ship had well arranged workshop for small repair of aircrafts and motors, storehouse of spare parts and the tank for aviation petrol. As it was forbidden to Germany to build combat ships on export, at building Zmaj was classified as "auxiliary motorship" and she arrived to Yugoslavia without armament. Thanks to strong armament, Zmaj was rated as battle ship, instead of auxiliary. In 1937 it was offered to fit minelaying equipment: according to calculations, ship could carry up to 100 mines, however before war, works, most likely, have not been conducted.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

17.4.1941 Zmaj was captured by German troops at Split, 7.8.1941 commissioned by Kriegsmarine as Drache, in 1942 she was converted to minelayer. Drache was sunk by British aircraft at Samos 22.9.1944.



Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.