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Z1 Leberecht Maas 1937

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Z1 Leberecht Maass		242	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	10/1934	18.8.1935	2/1937	sunk 22.2.1940
Z2 Georg Thiele		243	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	10/1934	18.8.1935	2/1937	sunk 13.4.1940
Z3 Max Schultz		244	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	1/1935	30.11.1935	4/1937	sunk 22.2.1940
Z4 Richard Beitzen		245	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	1/1935	30.11.1935	5/1937	surrendered 5.1945, to UK 12.1945, BU 1947

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	2232
Displacement full, t	3156
Length, m	114.0 wl 119.0 oa
Breadth, m	11.3
Draught, m	4.23
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Deschimag geared steam turbines, 6 Wagner boilers
Power, h. p.	70000
Max speed, kts	38.2
Fuel, t	oil 715
Endurance, nm(kts)	1825(19)
Armament	5 x 1 - 128/42 SK C/34, 2 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 6 x 1 - 20/65 C/30, 2 x 4 - 533 TT (16), 4 DCT (18), 60 mines
Electronic equipment	GHG hydrophone
Complement	Z1: 338 Z2 - 4: 315

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Works over rigorous destroyer have begun in Germany in 1932. In reply to the French ships having 4-5 130mm or 5 138mm guns, 127mm calibre have been chosen: in the presence of 4 guns displacement should make 1500t. Under the personal order of admiral Roeder ship received fifth gun and triple TTs were replaced by quadruple ones. As a result standard displacement has exceeded 2000t though officially declared was only 1625t. Order for the first 4 destroyers (type 1934) has been given out 1.4.1934, long before official denunciation of the Versailles limitation, which they considerably exceeded. In 1934-1935 12 more destroyers of type 1934А were ordered.

The internal arrangement has been borrowed type 1923, and artillery placing repeated that on French leaders of Le Fantasque class. The considerable attention was given to the air defence weapons presented by new 37mm/83 semiautomatic guns in twin stabilized mounts. Destroyers of 1934 type had all-welded hulls gathered on the cross-section scheme, high funnels and massive superstructures that led to considerable top weight. Ships had bridges with the rounded face, subsequently that was replaced by rectangular ones. Seagoing capacities and manoeuvrability of the ships were valued as rather mediocre. Prominent feature was machinery using steam with high parameters. Ships were equipped with Wagner boilers (70atm, 460°C) and Deschimag turbines. Extreme unreliability of machinery significantly reduced fighting capability of the ships. Also destroyers were equipped with cruising turbines which have appeared unsuccessful and further were not fitted. Auxiliary machinery worked on high parameters steam that has led to raised fuel rate and sharp decrease in an endurance. It was especially showed during capture of Narvik in April, 1940 and became a cause of loss of many ships.

Modernizations

1937, all: hulls were strengthened, length was 114.4 wl 119.3 oa

1940, Z4 Richard Beitzen: + S-Gerät sonar

early 1941, Z4: - 6 x 1 - 20/65; + 6 x 1 - 20/65 C/38

1941 - 1942, Z4: - 2 x 1 - 20/65; + 1 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, FuMO 24 radar

early 1944, Z4: stem was reconstructed, length oa achieved 121.3 m.; + FuMO 63K radar, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suite

Naval service

Z1 Leberecht Maass and  Z3 Max Schultz were lost 22.2.1940 in the North Sea: former was sunk by mistake by German bomber, latter was sunk on British mines. 13.4.1940 in an Ufut-fjord out-of-ammunition Z2 Georg Thiele was blown up by crew.

Z4 Richard Beitzen was BU in 1949.