Profile drawing of Z30
127,0 mOverall length
3691 tMaximum displacement
37,5 knMaximum speed
320 - 332Complement

Design and service

The story of Z30

Z30 was part of the 8th destroyer flotilla - also called the "Narvik" flotilla, until Mid of 1942 the ship was based in Narvik and later took part in the Battle of the Barents Sea December of 1942. After Operation Sizilien, Z30 escorted the battlecruiser Scharnhorst during its last voyage. Since May 1944 the ship operated at Jutland where it damaged by a mien in October 1944.

Decommissioned on 14.05.1945 in Oslo.

Taken over by the Norwegians, given to Britain in Summer of 1945. Used as a target ship in 1946, broken down in 1949.

Operational history

Service timeline

The destroyers Z24, Z26, Z30 and the torpedo boats T11, T15 and T16 escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper to Trondheim.

Z28, Z30, T5 and T7 escorrt the heavy crusier Admiral Scheer and the Troßschiff Dithmarschen 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.

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.

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

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.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
3691 t
Length (Total)
127,0 m
Length (Waterline)
121,9 m
Beam
12,0 m
Draft
4,62 m
Crew
320 - 332

Armament

15 cm L/48 C/36 (5,9")
4
3,7 cm L/83 C/30
4 (7 since 1944)
2 cm MG L/65 C/30
5 (12 since 1942, 14 since 1944)
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
2239 miles at 19 kn

Construction record

Z30

Laid down
Deschimag Bremen, 15.04.1940
Launched
08.12.1940
Commissioned
15.11.1941
Fate
scrapped 1949