Together with the cruisers Köln, Leipzig, Nürnberg and other destroyers operations in the Danzig Beight.
119,0 mOverall length
3110 tMaximum displacement
36,4 knMaximum speed
325Complement
Design and service
The story of Z8 Bruno Heinemann
Z8 Bruno Heinemann was part of the 6th Destroyer Division at the outbreak of the war, operating in the Baltic Sea near Danzig and later transferred to the North Sea after the Polnish campaign. The ship took part in two mining operations in British coastal waters. During in Operation Weserübung the Z8 Bruno Heinemann was part of the Kriegsschiffgruppe 2 heading for Trondheim.
After the German attack on the Soviet Union, the 6th destroyer division transferred to Arctic, stationed in Kirkens until October 1941. After repairs in Germany, the destroyer was sent to France as part of the 5th destroyer division to take part in Operation Cerberus in February of 1942. On transit to france, the ship sunk by a mine hit on 25.01.1942 west of Ostend at 51°16'N,02°15'E.
Operational history
Service timeline
Mine laying operation together with the destroyers Erich Steinbrinck, Hermann Künne, Friedrich Ihn and Richard Beitzen 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 Erich Koellner and Wilhelm Zenker against Cromer.
Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Wolfgang Zenker and Erich Koellner against the Haisborough lightship. The mine laying destroyers are supported by Wilhelm Heidkamp, Theodor Riedel and Hermann Schoemann.
Operation Weserübung: Bruno Heinemann joins the destroyers Paul Jakobi, Friedrich Eckold, and Theodor Riedel in the Trondheim Attack Group.
Together with the destroyer Richard Beitzen and the torpedo boats Leopard, Kondor, Möwe and Wolf, the Bruno Heinemann 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 Richard Beitzen and Hermann Schoemann, the torpedo boat Greif,and 3 S-boats, the Bruno Heinemann 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 Richard Beitzen and Hermann Schoemann.
Mine operation in the North Sea together with the destroyers Richard Beitzen and Hermann Schoemann.
Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn are sent to Brest.
The destroyers Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn are transferred to La Pallice.
Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn escort the auxiliary cruiser Thor in the Biscay.
Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn are relocated to Bordeaux.
The Troßschiff Nordmark is escorted by the destroyers Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn from Le Havre to Boulogne.
Operation Rheinübung: Bruno Heinemann and Friedrich Ihn escort the returing heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen to Brest.
The 5th destroyer flotilla of Erich Steinbrinck, Friedrich Ihn, Bruno Heinemann, Z23 and Z24 is sent from La Pallice to Brest. On their way back, they escort the battleship Scharnhorst on its way to La Pallice.
The 5th destroyer flotilla consisting of Erich Steinbrinck, Friedrich Ihn, Bruno Heinemann, Z23 and Z24 escort the bomb damaged battleship Scharnhorst from La Pallice to Brest.
Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann, Z23 and Z24 meet the auxiliary cruiser Orion in the Biskay and escort it to France.
Bruno Heinemann and Erich Steinbrinck are 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 sinks after two mine hits near Cape Griz Nez.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 3110 t
- Length (Total)
- 119,0 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 114,0 m
- Beam
- 11,3 m
- Draft
- 4,23 m
- Crew
- 325
Armament
- 15 cm Utof
- 4 (only 1939)
- 12,7 cm L/45 C/36
- 5
- 3,7 cm L/83 C/30
- 4
- 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
- 6
- 53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
- 8
- Mines
- 60
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Wagner Geared Turbines
Performance
- Total Performance
- 72100 shp
- Speed
- 36,4 kn
- Range
- 2040 sm at 19 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Z8 Bruno Heinemann
- Laid down
- Deschimag Bremen, 14.01.1936
- Launched
- 15.09.1936
- Commissioned
- 08.01.1938
- Fate
- sunk 25.01.1942
- Cost
- 12,7 Mio Reichsmark