Z23 is commissioned.
127,0 mOverall length
3605 tMaximum displacement
37,5 knMaximum speed
320 - 332Complement
Design and service
The story of Z23
Zerstörer Z23 of the Zerstörer 1936A class Z23 was used as part of the 8th destroyer flotilla - also called the "Narvik" flotilla. Between June and October 1941 attached to the 6th destroyer flotilla in France, then stationed in Kirkens and used for unsuccessful operations along the Murman coast until the end of 1941 when returned to Germany. In September 1942, the Z23 was used in a mine laying operation in the Barents Sea and transferred to France in March 1943 where it was heavily damaged by a bomb hit on 12.08.1944 in La Pallice. Decommissioned on 21.08.1944. Taken over by France after the war, renamed to Leopard, but never put into service because of the bad condition.
Scrapped after 1951.
Operational history
Service timeline
Transfer of Z23 and Z24 to Bergen.
Z23 and Z24 escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper on its way back from the North Atlantik to Germany from Bergan to the Skagerak.
The destroyers Z23 and Z24 and the torpedo boat Iltis escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer on its way back from the North Atlantik to Germany from Norway to Germany.
Operation Rheinübung: The destroyers Friedrich Eckoldt, Hans Lody, Friedrich Ihn, Erich Steinbrinck, Karl Galster and Z20 escort the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen from the Baltic Sea to Trondheim. After that, the destroyers return to Germany.
Hans Lody, Friedrich Eckoldt, Karl Galster, Z23 and Z24 escort the damaged cruiser Lützow (airborne torpedo hit) back to Germany.
Destroyers Z23 and Z24 are transferred 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.
Z23 and Z24 are sent back to Germany.
Transfer of Z23, Z25 and Z27 to North-Norway.
Operations of Z23, Z24, Z25 and Z27 against the Kola coast. After a battle against the British MTB Hazard and Speedy (hit 4 times), the destroyers return to their base.
The 8.Z-Flotilla, constiting of Z23, Z24, Z25 and Z27 sails out of the Ofotfjord.
Z23, Z24, Z25 and Z27 operate at the Lofoten.
Z23, Z24, Z25 and Z27 escort the Adolf Lüderitz from Tromsö to Kirkenes.
Mine operation of Z23, Z24 and Z25 at Cape Kacovskij in the White Sea.
The transfer of Z23, Z24 and Z25 from Kirkenes to Tromsö is canceled after Z23 and Z24 were damaged after running aground.
Z23, Z24 and Z25 are sent from Kirkenses to Tromsö.
Z23, T9 and T12 escort the mine layer Ulm on its way to Narvik.
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.
The heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is escorded by Z23, Z28, T9 and T12 on its way from the Altafjord to the Bogenbucht.
Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Eckoldt, Z23, Z28 and Z29 escort the battleship Tirpitz and the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer from Narvik to Trondheim.
Z23, Z28 and Z29 escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer from Trondheim back to Germany.
Z23, Z25 and Z29 escort the light cruiser Nürnberg on its way to Trondheim.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 3605 t
- Length (Total)
- 127,0 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 121,9 m
- Beam
- 12,0 m
- Draft
- 4,65 m
- Crew
- 320 - 332
Armament
- 15 cm L/48 C/36 (5,9")
- 4 (5 since 1942)
- 3,7 cm L/83 C/30
- 4
- 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
- 5 (12 since 1942)
- 53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
- 8
- Mines
- 60
- Depth Charge launcher
- 4
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Wagner (Deschimag build)
Performance
- Total Performance
- 70000 shp
- Speed
- 37,5 kn
- Range
- 2174 miles at 19 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Z23
- Laid down
- Deschimag Bremen, 15.11.1938
- Launched
- 15.12.1939
- Commissioned
- 15.09.1940
- Fate
- scrapped after 1951
- Cost
- 13,18 Mio Reichsmark