Armada: Z-39

Destroyer Z-39 was one of the last ships of her type to be built for the Kriegsmarine.

She served in the navies of three countries: Germany, the U.S.A., and France. Now you have the chance to take command of her in World of Warships!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In early 1939, Germany adopted the so-called "Plan Z" that provided for building a large surface fleet. Under this plan, 68 destroyers were to be constructed, eight of which were ordered to be built as per the 1936A design. These were large ships with a full water displacement of almost 3,700 tons, and their main feature was artillery armament with a caliber of 150 mm—usually typical of cruisers. There were no other countries in the world where shipbuilders mounted guns of such a large caliber on destroyers.

By the time World War II broke out, the execution of Plan Z had only just commenced. It was in September 1939 that Krupp's Germaniawerft shipyards in Kiel received the order for four destroyers, including Z-39. The new ships had to be built within the limitations of wartime budgets and utilize simplified technology, which is why the project was codenamed 1936A (Mob) meaning "mobilization."

Construction progressed slowly. The shipbuilders experienced shortages of materials, the shipyards were busy repairing ships damaged in battle, and their qualified personnel were sent to naval bases in France and Norway. This resulted in Z-39’s construction schedule being set back by almost a year. The destroyer was launched in December 1941, but she was commissioned only in August 1943.

By that time it had become apparent that project 1936A needed to be significantly elaborated. Her five 150 mm main guns turned out to be too heavy and adversely affected the ship's seagoing performance. Apart from that, her AA armament was too weak. Prior to the beginning of 1944, the ship hadn’t even put out to sea, and yet she underwent the necessary overhaul to fix these issues. In the process, she was stripped of her No.3 main battery gun, which allowed her AA armament to be further reinforced.

In 1944, the ship took part in minelaying operations in the Baltic Sea while attached to the 4th destroyer flotilla, and shelled Soviet positions from time to time. In June 1944, off the coast of Paldiski, the ship was damaged during a Soviet air raid. After being transported to Kiel for repairs, the ship again suffered damage during an attack by British bombers. Due to a lack of the necessary personnel and materials for repairs, as well as a critical shortage of fuel, the ship was only able to return to active service in late March, 1945.

During the final months of the war, Z-39 continued to provide fire support for the retreating German forces, and escorted transport ships carrying garrisons and refugees being evacuated from the Baltic coast. On May 10, 1945, the destroyer was decommissioned from the navy in Kiel.

After that, the ship became a prize of war for the Allies. She was transferred to Plymouth in the U.K., and then later in August 1945, to Boston in the U.S.A. The former German destroyer was inducted into the U.S. Navy under the name “DD-939.” The Americans studied their trophy for two years, and were particularly interested in her propulsion. However, the U.S. Navy wasn’t in heavy need of another destroyer, especially one that couldn’t boast of being a particularly successful design. That’s why, in early 1948, the ship returned to Europe and was inducted into the French Navy.

Under the French flag, the ex-Z-39 was renamed “Q-128,” and she served almost until the mid-1960s. But the French decided not to commission her as a warship. The ship was initially used as a donor of spare parts for the nation’s other prize destroyers, and later she served as a pontoon boat. In 1964, the decommissioned ship was finally scrapped for metal in Lorient, France.




In the game the ship will be featured as she was in 1945.

Main Battery: One twin 150 mm L/48 LDrh LC/38 mount, and two 150 mm L/48 Tbts LC/36 guns placed in single mounts.

Torpedo Armament: Two 533 mm quadruple-torpedo tubes.

Anti-Aircraft Armament: Fourteen 37 mm Flak LM/42 AA automatic guns placed in six twin mounts and two single mounts; twelve 20 mm Flak 38 AA automatic guns placed in two quadruple Flakvierling 38 mounts and two twin Flakzwilling 38 mounts.

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Superintendent
  
• Concealment Expert

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Superintendent
  
• Concealment Expert
  
• Torpedo Armament Expertise
  
• Survivability Expert
  
• Expert Marksman
  
• Preventive Maintenance

• Main Armaments Modification 1
  
• Steering Gears Modification 1 or Hydroacoustic Search Modification 1
• Aiming Systems Modification 1
  
• Propulsion Modification 2
  
• Concealment System Modification 1

VII Z-39 is a destroyer equipped with cruiser-like 150 mm artillery guns that successfully employ both types of shells. That, coupled with her fast torpedoes, makes Z-39 a formidable ship—lethal within a 10 km range, especially for other destroyers and battleships. Her large amount of HP, decent speed, and camouflage, as well as the handy Hydroacoustic Search consumable, make her a true force to be reckoned with. Z-39 is built to duel and hunt, but she's also a valuable team player.

• Her pool of 19,600 HP is impressive, even for higher-tier destroyers.
  
• Four 150 mm guns. Their impressively fast shells with flat-trajectory ballistics deliver significant damage and have high penetration capabilities. Her HE shells also have good chances of causing fires on any targets they strike.
  
• She’s equipped with some of the tier’s fastest mid-range torpedoes. Range—8.5 km; speed—65 knots.
  
• The Hydroacoustic Search consumable increases her detection capabilities, rendering Z-39 effective against other destroyers.
  
• Access to Upgrade Slot 5, which is unusual for Tier VII ships.
  
• She earns more credits, and her permanent camouflage provides a 50% XP bonus per battle and reduces the cost of your ship's post-battle service by 10%.

• VII Z-39 
   
• 1×Port slot