Z36 was one of five Type 1936B destroyers built for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during World War II. Completed in early 1944, the ship spent the war in the Baltic Sea, escorting German ships, laying minefields, and bombarding Soviet forces. On 12 December, a navigational error caused her to enter a German minefield as she was preparing to lay another minefield in the Gulf of Finland off the Estonian coast. Z36 struck a single mine and sank with the loss of all hands. The wreck was surveyed in 1994.
The Type 1936B design retained the hull design of the Type 1936A, but reverted to the lighter main armament of the Type 1936 to reduce topweight and improve seakeeping. The ships had an overall length of 127 metres (416 ft 8 in) and was 121.9 metres (399 ft 11 in) long at the waterline. The ship had a beam of 12 metres (39 ft 4 in), and a maximum draught of 4.32 metres (14 ft 2 in). They displaced 2,519 long tons (2,559 t) at standard load and 3,542 long tons (3,599 t) at deep load. The two Wagner geared steam turbine sets, each driving one propeller shaft, were designed to produce 70,000 metric horsepower (51,000 kW; 69,000 shp) using steam provided by six Wagner water-tube boilers for a designed speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 835 tonnes (822 long tons) of fuel oil which gave a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).[1] Their crew consisted of 11–15 officers and 305–20 sailors.[2]
The Type 1936B ships carried five 12.7-centimetre (5 in) SK C/34 guns in single mounts with gun shields, two each superimposed, fore and aft of the superstructure. The fifth mount was positioned on top of the rear deckhouse. The guns were designated No. 1 to 5 from front to rear. Their anti-aircraft armament consisted of four 3.7-centimetre (1.5 in) SK C/30 guns in two twin mounts abreast the rear funnel and fifteen 2-centimetre (0.8 in) C/38 guns in three quadruple and three single mounts. The ship carried eight above-water 53.3-centimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes in two power-operated mounts. Two reloads were provided for each mount. They had four depth charge launchers and mine rails could be fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 74–76 mines. 'GHG' (Gruppenhorchgerät) passive hydrophones were fitted to detect submarines and a S-Gerätsonar was also probably fitted. The ships were equipped with a FuMO 24/25 radar set above the bridge.[3][4]
Construction and career
Z36 was originally ordered as a Type 1938B destroyer from AG Weser (Deschimag) on 28 June 1939, but the contract was cancelled when the Type 1938B design was abandoned, and the ship was reordered as a Type 1936A (Mob) destroyer. That was changed to a Type 1936B on 17 February 1941. She was laid down as yard number W1006 on 15 September at Deschimag's Bremenshipyard, launched on 15 May 1943 and commissioned on 19 February 1944, under the command of Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander) Fredric von Hausen. After working upZ36 was assigned to the 6. Zerstörerflotille (6th Destroyer Flotilla) in mid-1944.[5][6]
In preparation for Operation Tanne West, the occupation of Åland in case of Finnish surrender, the flotilla escorted the heavy cruiser Lützow to the island of Utö on 28 June, but the operation was canceled and the ships returned to port. On 30 July and 1 August Z36 and three other destroyers of the flotilla sailed into the Gulf of Riga to bombard Soviet positions inland. On 5 August, they escorted the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as she engaged targets on the island of Ösel, Estonia, and in Latvia on 19–20 August. Z36 and the destroyer Z28 escorted the troopshipMVMonte Rosa, laden with refugees, from Baltischport, Estonia, to Gotenhafen, Germany, on 16 September. That month, the flotilla also covered the convoys evacuating Finland and then Reval. From 10 to 15 October the flotilla escorted Lützow and Prinz Eugen as they resumed their shore bombardment missions and bombarded targets themselves, attacking Soviet positions at Memel and Libau. The following month, the flotilla and the heavy cruisers Admiral Scheer and Prinz Eugen shelled Soviet positions during the evacuation of Sworbe, on Ösel, between 20 and 24 November.[7][8]
In mid-December, the 6. Zerstörerflotille, which now consisted of Z36, her sister shipsZ35 and Z43, and the large torpedo boatsT23 and T28, was tasked to lay a new minefield between the Estonian coast and an existing minefield slightly further out to sea. T23 was to escort the other ships and the destroyers were laden with 68 mines each. The mission was postponed to the night of 11/12 December because of bad weather and the flotilla sailed on the morning of the 11th. The weather gradually worsened over the course of the day and the spray and rain made navigation difficult. Having sailed a bit too far north, Z35 and Z36 blundered into the Nashorn (Rhinoceros) minefield that was only 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) north of the intended position of the new minefield. Around 02:00, Z36 struck a mine and sank very quickly with the loss of all hands.[7][9]
^Saari, Jukka. "Z 36" (in Finnish). Pohjalla Ry. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
Bibliography
Gröner, Erich (1990). German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 1: Major Surface Warships. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-790-9.
Koop, Gerhard & Schmolke, Klaus-Peter (2003). German Destroyers of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-307-1.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
german, destroyer, five, type, 1936b, destroyers, built, kriegsmarine, german, navy, during, world, completed, early, 1944, ship, spent, baltic, escorting, german, ships, laying, minefields, bombarding, soviet, forces, december, navigational, error, caused, en. Z36 was one of five Type 1936B destroyers built for the Kriegsmarine German Navy during World War II Completed in early 1944 the ship spent the war in the Baltic Sea escorting German ships laying minefields and bombarding Soviet forces On 12 December a navigational error caused her to enter a German minefield as she was preparing to lay another minefield in the Gulf of Finland off the Estonian coast Z36 struck a single mine and sank with the loss of all hands The wreck was surveyed in 1994 Semi oblique photo of Z36HistoryNazi GermanyNameZ36Ordered17 February 1941BuilderAG Weser Deschimag BremenYard numberW1006Laid down15 September 1941Launched15 May 1943Commissioned19 February 1944FateSunk by mine 12 December 1944General characteristicsClass and typeType 1936B destroyerDisplacement2 519 long tons 2 559 t standard 3 542 long tons 3 599 t deep load Length127 m 416 ft 8 in o a Beam12 m 39 ft 4 in Draught4 32 m 14 ft 2 in Installed power70 000 PS 51 000 kW 69 000 shp 6 water tube boilersPropulsion2 shafts 2 geared steam turbine setsSpeed36 knots 67 km h 41 mph Range2 600 nmi 4 800 km 3 000 mi at 19 knots 35 km h 22 mph Complement316 336Armament5 single 12 7 cm 5 in guns 2 twin 3 7 cm 1 5 in AA guns 3 quadruple 3 single 2 cm 0 79 in AA guns 2 quadruple 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes 4 depth charge throwers 74 76 mines Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 Bibliography 5 Further reading 6 External linksDesign and description EditThe Type 1936B design retained the hull design of the Type 1936A but reverted to the lighter main armament of the Type 1936 to reduce topweight and improve seakeeping The ships had an overall length of 127 metres 416 ft 8 in and was 121 9 metres 399 ft 11 in long at the waterline The ship had a beam of 12 metres 39 ft 4 in and a maximum draught of 4 32 metres 14 ft 2 in They displaced 2 519 long tons 2 559 t at standard load and 3 542 long tons 3 599 t at deep load The two Wagner geared steam turbine sets each driving one propeller shaft were designed to produce 70 000 metric horsepower 51 000 kW 69 000 shp using steam provided by six Wagner water tube boilers for a designed speed of 36 knots 67 km h 41 mph The ships carried a maximum of 835 tonnes 822 long tons of fuel oil which gave a range of 2 600 nautical miles 4 800 km 3 000 mi at 19 knots 35 km h 22 mph 1 Their crew consisted of 11 15 officers and 305 20 sailors 2 The Type 1936B ships carried five 12 7 centimetre 5 in SK C 34 guns in single mounts with gun shields two each superimposed fore and aft of the superstructure The fifth mount was positioned on top of the rear deckhouse The guns were designated No 1 to 5 from front to rear Their anti aircraft armament consisted of four 3 7 centimetre 1 5 in SK C 30 guns in two twin mounts abreast the rear funnel and fifteen 2 centimetre 0 8 in C 38 guns in three quadruple and three single mounts The ship carried eight above water 53 3 centimetre 21 in torpedo tubes in two power operated mounts Two reloads were provided for each mount They had four depth charge launchers and mine rails could be fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 74 76 mines GHG Gruppenhorchgerat passive hydrophones were fitted to detect submarines and a S Gerat sonar was also probably fitted The ships were equipped with a FuMO 24 25 radar set above the bridge 3 4 Construction and career EditZ36 was originally ordered as a Type 1938B destroyer from AG Weser Deschimag on 28 June 1939 but the contract was cancelled when the Type 1938B design was abandoned and the ship was reordered as a Type 1936A Mob destroyer That was changed to a Type 1936B on 17 February 1941 She was laid down as yard number W1006 on 15 September at Deschimag s Bremen shipyard launched on 15 May 1943 and commissioned on 19 February 1944 under the command of Korvettenkapitan Lieutenant Commander Fredric von Hausen After working up Z36 was assigned to the 6 Zerstorerflotille 6th Destroyer Flotilla in mid 1944 5 6 In preparation for Operation Tanne West the occupation of Aland in case of Finnish surrender the flotilla escorted the heavy cruiser Lutzow to the island of Uto on 28 June but the operation was canceled and the ships returned to port On 30 July and 1 August Z36 and three other destroyers of the flotilla sailed into the Gulf of Riga to bombard Soviet positions inland On 5 August they escorted the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as she engaged targets on the island of Osel Estonia and in Latvia on 19 20 August Z36 and the destroyer Z28 escorted the troopship MV Monte Rosa laden with refugees from Baltischport Estonia to Gotenhafen Germany on 16 September That month the flotilla also covered the convoys evacuating Finland and then Reval From 10 to 15 October the flotilla escorted Lutzow and Prinz Eugen as they resumed their shore bombardment missions and bombarded targets themselves attacking Soviet positions at Memel and Libau The following month the flotilla and the heavy cruisers Admiral Scheer and Prinz Eugen shelled Soviet positions during the evacuation of Sworbe on Osel between 20 and 24 November 7 8 In mid December the 6 Zerstorerflotille which now consisted of Z36 her sister ships Z35 and Z43 and the large torpedo boats T23 and T28 was tasked to lay a new minefield between the Estonian coast and an existing minefield slightly further out to sea T23 was to escort the other ships and the destroyers were laden with 68 mines each The mission was postponed to the night of 11 12 December because of bad weather and the flotilla sailed on the morning of the 11th The weather gradually worsened over the course of the day and the spray and rain made navigation difficult Having sailed a bit too far north Z35 and Z36 blundered into the Nashorn Rhinoceros minefield that was only 2 5 nautical miles 4 6 km 2 9 mi north of the intended position of the new minefield Around 02 00 Z36 struck a mine and sank very quickly with the loss of all hands 7 9 The wreck was surveyed by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment in 1994 at 59 38 1 N 24 20 E 59 6350 N 24 333 E 59 6350 24 333 Coordinates 59 38 1 N 24 20 E 59 6350 N 24 333 E 59 6350 24 333 10 Notes Edit Groner p 204 Koop amp Schmolke p 27 Groner pp 203 04 Whitley pp 68 71 73 201 Koop amp Schmolke pp 24 25 116 Whitley p 180 a b Koop amp Schmolke p 116 Rohwer pp 339 351 359 363 373 74 Whitley pp 180 87 Saari Jukka Z 36 in Finnish Pohjalla Ry Retrieved 13 March 2018 Bibliography EditGroner Erich 1990 German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 1 Major Surface Warships Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 790 9 Koop Gerhard amp Schmolke Klaus Peter 2003 German Destroyers of World War II Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 307 1 Rohwer Jurgen 2005 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 The Naval History of World War Two Third Revised ed Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 119 2 Whitley M J 1991 German Destroyers of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 55750 302 2 Further reading EditWilliamson Gordon Palmer Ian 2003 German Destroyers 1939 45 2003 ed Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 504 4 External links EditZ36 on german navy de German Destroyers on Battleships Cruisers co uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German destroyer Z36 amp oldid 1133413277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
