Z1 Leberecht Maas

119,0 mOverall length

3156 tMaximum displacement

36,0 knMaximum speed

325Complement

Design and service

The story of Z1 Leberecht Maas

Part of the 9th destroyer division at the outbreak of the war, operating in the Baltic Sea near Danzig. On 03. 09.

1939, the Maas was lightly damages during a battle with Polnish ships and coastal artillery. During a mining mission close to the British coast (Operation Wikinger) on 22. 02.

1940, the Maas was accidentally attacked by a German Heinkel He 111 bomber at the Doggerbank. During evasive maneuvers, the ship run into an unknown British minefield. Sunk after bomb and mine hits.

Operational history

Service timeline

01.09.1939

Together with the cruisers Köln, Leipzig, Nürnberg and other destroyers operations in the Danzig Beight.

03.09.1939

In a battle against the Polish destroyer Wicher, the mine layer Gryf and coastal batteries at Hela, the Leberecht Maas is hit once.

22-23.02.1940

Operation "Wikinger": Together with Richard Beitzen, Erich Koellner, Theodor Riedel, Max Schulz and Friedrich Eckold, the Leberecht Maas operate against british fishing boats at the Doggerbank. On their way to the operations area, the destroyers are attacked by a German bomber, sinking the Leberecht Maas. During the evasive maneuvers, the destroyers run into British mines and the Max Schulz is lost after a mine hit.

At a glance