At the outbreak of World War II, the German Navy, the Kriegsmarine had 21 destroyers (German: Zerstörer) available. These were modern vessels and another 19 were added during the hostilities. The Kriegsmarine (or War Navy) was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, during the Nazi regime, superseding the Reichsmarine. ...

Destroyer classes are generally known by the year of their design. Because of their size, use and weaponry, some vessels classified as "fleet torpedo boats" (Flottentorpedoboot} are also described.

Class general characteristics are taken from the first of each class, and may differ slightly for individual ships, particularly when they were refitted. Post-war, some surviving ships had significant changes to armament.

Zerstörer 1934

This class of four ships was the first German destroyer class built after World War I, laid down between October, 1934 and January, 1935. They were not very good ships. Built rapidly, they were very wet in heavy seas, losing the use of the forward guns, there were structural weaknesses and machinery problems. The engines were newly designed high pressure turbines that promised much but disappointed once installed: maintenance was difficult and they caused excessive vibration. In addition, the class' range was limited. Only one ship survived the war. WWII era steam turbine used for ship propulsion. ...

Zerstörer 1934
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3156 tons (maximum)
Length:	119 metres (overall); 114 metres (waterline)
Beam:	11.3 metres
Draught:	4.23 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	36 knots
Range:	1900 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	325
Armament:	5x12.7 cm L/45 C/34 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 4-6x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 60 mines
Armour:

The ships were: Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ...

Zerstörer 1934A

Twelve destroyers laid down between July and November, 1935.

Zerstörer 1934A
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3110 tons (maximum)
Length:	119 metres (overall); 114 metres (waterline)
Beam:	11.3 metres
Draught:	4.23 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 72,100 shp
Speed:	36.4 knots
Range:	2040 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	325
Armament:	5x12.7 cm L/45 C/34 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 6x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 60 mines
Armour:

Five survived the war. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ...

Zerstörer 1936

These 6 ships (of 26 planned) were improved and enlarged versions of the 1934 and 1934A classes. Despite the serious faults of the earlier ships not being apparant when these were in design, they had been resolved. Engine reliablility and the structural integrity was much improved and they were much better seagoing ships, shipping less water through an improvement in the design of the bows.

Zerstörer 1936
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3415 tons (maximum)
Length:	123.4 metres (overall); 120 metres (waterline)
Beam:	11.75 metres
Draught:	4.50 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 74,500 shp
Speed:	40.45 knots
Range:	2050 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	323
Armament:	5x12.7 cm (5") L/45 C/34 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 4x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

None of the class survived the war: all but one ship was sunk at Narvik. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ... The Battles of Narvik were naval battles between the Royal Navy (the United Kingdom) and the Kriegsmarine (Germany) that occurred in April 1940, during the Second World War. ...

Zerstörer 1936A "Narvik"

Eight destroyers intended to carry newly designed 15 centimetre (5.9") guns in single turrets with a twin turret at the bow. The twin mountings were not ready in time and so singles were used, and the twins fitted later. Anti-aircraft weaponry was substantially improved.

Despite reusing earlier ship designs as a basis, with modifications to improve seaworthiness, the ships took over water in heavy seas. After much effort, the problem was traced to a new ly designed stern.

Zerstörer 1936A
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3605 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 metres (overall); 121.9 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.65 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	37.50 knots
Range:	2174 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	320 - 330
Armament:	5x15 cm (5,9") L/48 C/36 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 5-12x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

Four survived the war. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ...

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)

When war broke out in 1939, new destroyer classes were cancelled and 12 additional 1936A vessels were ordered with slight modifications to speed construction and save materials. The 15 cm turrets were taken from planned, but unrealised, Class "O" battlecruisers. In war service, the engines were more reliable than in earlier ships but later, heavy corrosion was discovered. Plan Z was the name given to the planned re-equipment and expansion of the Kriegsmarine from 1935 onwards. ...

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3691 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 metres (overall); 121.9 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.62 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	37.5 knots
Range:	2239 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	320 - 332
Armament:	4-5x15 cm (5.9") L/48 C/36 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 12x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 60 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

Seven of this sub-class were built: one was sunk, another two were severely damaged and not repaired. The remaining four were war booty allocated to the Allies. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ...

Zerstörer 1936B

The main armament of this class reduced back to single mounted guns and the flak armament was increased. The efficacy of this change was not proven in high seas as this sub-class only operated in the Baltic and coastal waters.

Zerstörer 1936B
General Characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	3542 tons (maximum)
Length:	127 metres (overall); 121.5 metres (waterline)
Beam:	12 metres
Draught:	4.21 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 70,000 shp
Speed:	36.5 knots
Range:	2600 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	331
Armament:	5x12.7 cm L/45 C/34 4-10x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 9-16x2 cm MG L/65 C/30 8x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 76 mines 4xdepth charge launchers
Armour:

Two ships were never completed, being scrapped after the war. The three that were commissioned were all lost. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ...

Zerstörer 1936C

Six ships of this class were ordered in 1942 and 1943; none were launched, just two were started. They were a response to the vulnerability to air attack of previous German destroyers and would have used six new Luftwaffe 12.8 cm Flak 40 guns as dual purpose weapons in twin mountings.

Zerstörer 1938A/Ac

The need for a large ocean-going destroyer had been recognised and development started in the late 1930s. They would have had dual power systems to enable long endurance cruises. Twenty-four of these were planned under Plan Z but the three actually ordered were cancelled. The concept was developed further into the Spahkreuzer. Plan Z was the name given to the planned re-equipment and expansion of the Kriegsmarine from 1935 onwards. ...

Abandoned classes

Several classes of destroyer were planned and abandoned, ie, 1938B, 1942, 1944 and 1945, as well as projected Spähkreuzer classes. They included large ocean going types for fleet duty and more conventional ones. A few vessels were laid down, but abandoned or destroyed in air raids.

Flottentorpedoboot 1939

Flottentorpedoboot 1939
General Characteristics
Type:	Fleet torpedo boat
Displacement:	1754 tons (maximum)
Length:	102.50 metres (overall); 97 metres (waterline)
Beam:	10 metres
Draught:	3.22 metres
Propulsion:	2 Wagner geared turbines driving 2 shafts, 32,560 shp
Speed:	32.3 knots
Range:	2400 sea miles at 19 knots
Complement:	206
Armament:	4x10.5 cm L/45 C/32 4x3.7 cm L/83 C/30 2-9x2 cm MG L/65 C/39 6x53.3 cm torpedo tubes 50 mines
Armour:

These vessels were a response to the inflexibility and weaknesses of earlier German torpedo boat designs (not to be confused with the small, effective fast attack boats - schnellboot - kown to the Allies as "E-boats"). They were suitable as escorts and anti-aircraft defence as well as torpedo attacks and they were comparable in most respects to standard British destroyer types. Fifteen were laid down between 1940 and 1942, the last was commissioned at the end of 1944; three survived the war and served in Allied navies. Image File history File links Germany-Jack-1933. ... A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to launch torpedoes at larger surface ships. ... E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ...

The ships were numbered T22 to T36.

Flottentorpedoboot 1940

Three (out of 24 ordered) of these were launched from Dutch shipyards, to a Dutch design. None were completed.

Flottentorpedoboot 1941

This was a development of the 1939 class, with bigger engines and more anti-aircraft weapons. Fifteen were laid down or launched by the end of the war. None completed.

Flottentorpedoboot 1944

These were to have been ocean-going vessels capable of operating with the fleet, with greater range and an emphasis on anti-aircraft weaponry. Nine ordered; none started.

External links

• Kriegsmarine destroyers