Z4 Richard Beitzen

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

Mine laying operation together with the destroyers Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann, Friedrich Ihn and Hermann Künne against Newcastle. The returning ships are escorted by the light cruisers Nürnberg, Leipzig and Köln. Nürnberg and Köln are both hit by torpedoes of the British submarine Salmon.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Friedrich Eckold, Friedrich Ihn, Erich Steinbrinck, Karl Galster and Hermann Schoemann against the Themse estuary.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Anton Schmitt, Karl Galster, Wilhelm Heidkamp, Friedrich Ihn and Friedrich Eckold against Newcastle.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Max Schulz and Friedrich Eckold against the Shipwash-Area. The mine laying destroyers are supported by Wilhelm Heidkamp, Theodor Riedel and Hermann Schoemann.

Operation "Wikinger": Together with Friedrich Eckold, Erich Koellner, Theodor Riedel, Max Schulz and Leberecht Maas, the Richard Beitzen operates 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.

Together with the destroyer Bruno Heinemann and the torpedo boats Leopard, Kondor, Möwe and Wolf, the Richard Beitzen escorts the mine layers Kaiser, Roland and Preussen while laying the mine field 17n. The mine layers carry over 1000 mines. The Leopard is lost after being rammed by the mine layer Kaiser.

Together with the destroyers Bruno Heinemann and Hermann Schoemann, the torpedo boat Greif,and 3 S-boats, the Richard Beitzen escorts the mine layers Corba, Kaiser, Roland and Preussen while laying the mine field 16. The operation is cancelled when aircraft detected British destroyers nearby.

Mine operation in the North Sea together with the destroyers Bruno Heinemann and Hermann Schoemann.

Mine operation in the North Sea together with the destroyers Bruno Heinemann and Hermann Schoemann.

Transfer to Brest.

Karl Galster, Richard Beitzen and Hans Lody operate against Plymouth. One British patrol boat and the transport Appolonia are sunk.

Karl Galster, Richard Beitzen and Hans Lody operate against Plymouth again. Three smaller British ships are sunk, the destroyer Javelin is torpedoed.

Sent to Rotterdam.

Mine laying operation of the destroyer Richard Beitzen, the torpedo boats Iltis and Seeadler and the mine layers Corba, Kaiser and Roland at the British South East Coast.

Transfer of the destroyer Richard Beitzen and the torpedo boats Iltis, Kondor and Seeadler to Brest.

The heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is escorted by the destroyer Richard Beitzen and the torpedo boats Kondor and Seeadler while leaving Brest.

The heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is escorted by the destroyer Richard Beitzen and the torpedo boats Kondor and Seeadler while returning to Brest.

Transfer to Germany.

Richard Beitzen and Hans Lody are relocated to Bergen.

The 6th destroyer flotilla, consisting of the destroyers Friedrich Eckold, Karl Galster, Herman Schoemann, Richard Beitzen and Hans Lody are transferred to Kirkenes.

Operations of the 6th destroyer flotilla near hte North Cape and Kola: Hans Lody, Karl Galster, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Eckold and Richard Beitzen sink the Russian patrol boats Passat and Molotow.

The 6th destroyer flotilla, consisting of the destroyers Friedrich Eckold, Karl Galster, Herman Schoemann, and Richard Beitzen operate in the Arctic Sea and sink the Russian patrol boat Meridian and one float plane.

Hans Lody, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Eckold and Richard Beitzen operate against the Kaja- and Jugor-Street. The operation is aborted when a British task group consisting of aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers is reported.

Friedrich Eckold and Richard Beitzen escort troop transports in North Norway.

Friedrich Eckold, Hans Lody and Richard Beitzen operate near the Kola-Fjord and the Kildin-Islands. The Soviet patrol boat SKR 12/Tuman is sunk. Richard Beitzen is damaged by coastal artillery.

Escorted by the torpedo boats Iltis and Seeadler, the Richard Beitzen is sent back to Germany.

The destroyers Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Z29 escort the battleship Tirpitz to the Trondheimfjord.

Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Z29 return to Germany.

Transfer of Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Herman Schoemann to Le Havre. Bruno Heinemann is lost during the transfer because of two mine hits.

Richard Beitzen and Paul Jacobi are sent to Brest.

During gunnery drills, the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen is escorted by Richard Beitzen and Paul Jacobi.

Operation "Cerberus": On board of Z29, the "Füher der Zerstöer" and the destroyers Richard Beitzen, Paul Jakobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn, Z25 and the torpedo boats T2, T4, T4, T11, T13, T15, T16, T17 Seeadler, Kondor, Jaguar, Falke and iescort the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen through the Channel from Brest ot Germany.

Richard Beitzen, Paul Jacobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn, Z25 and the torpedo boat Jaguar escort the heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer on their way to Bergen.

Transfer of the 5th destroyer flotilla consisting of Richard Beitzen, Paul Jacobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn and Z25 to Trondheim.

Richard Beitzen and T4 are ordered back to Germany.

While being transferred to Kristiansand, the heavy cruiser Lützow is escorted by Richard Beitzen, Hans Lody, Z27 and Z29.

Mine laying operation at Jutland by Richard Beitzen, Hans Lody, Z27 and Z29.

Richard Beitzen, Hans Lody, Z27, Z29 and T12 escort the cruiser Lützow from Kristiansand to Trondheim.

The heavy cruiser Lützow is escorted by Richard Beitzen, Z27, Z29 and T7 from Trondheim to Narvik.

Operation Rösselsprung: In a major operation of the battleship Tirpitz and the heavy cruisers Admiral Scheer, Lützow and Admiral Hipper against the allied convoy PQ17, several destroyers and torpedo boats escort the capital ships: Friedrich Ihn, Hans Lody, Karl Galster, Theodor Riedel, Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt, Erich Steinbrinck, Z24, Z27, Z28, Z29, Z30, T7 and T15. The operation is cancelled, but the convoy is heavily attacked by U-boats and the Luftwaffe.

Friedrich Eckoldt, Erich Steinbrinck and Richard Beitzen escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer to the Bear Islands.

Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Ihn and Erich Steinbrinck escort the minelayer Ulm during a mine laying operation north of North Norway. After the destroyers leave the minelayer, it is sunk by the British destroyers Marne, Martin and Onslaught.

Friedrich Eckoldt, Erich Steinbrinck and Richard Beitzen escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer from Bear Island to Norway.

Mine laying operation of Richard Beitzen, Z29 and Z30 in the Kara Sea.

The destroyers Richard Beizen, Z23, Z28, Z29 and Z30 proceed to a mine laying operation at Nowaja Semlja. They are covered by the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer.

Richard Beizen and Friedrich Eckoldt relocate from the Altafjord to Kirkenes.

Mine laying operation of Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt, Z27 and Z30 near Kanin Nos.

Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt and Z29 escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer from the Altafjord to Narvik.

Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt, Z23, Z28 and Z29 escort the battleship Tirpitz and the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer from Narvik to Trondheim.

The destroyers Richard Beitzen and Friedrich Eckoldt return to Narvik.

Richard Beitzen and Friedrich Eckoldt escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper to the Alta-Fjord.

The 5th destroyer flotilla, consisting of Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt, Z27 and Z30, escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper during an operation into the Barents Sea to attack allied shipping.