In Service: 13 May 1937 to 1947
Ordered:
Builder: Deutsche
Werke, Kiel
Construction No: 245
Laid down: 7 January 1935
Launched: 30 November 1935
Commissioned: 13 May 1937
Type: Destroyer / Zerstörer
Class: Zerstörer 1934
Displacement: 2,223 tons standard 3,156 tons full load
Length: 119.3 m
Beam: 11.3 m
Draft: 4.23 m
Propulsion: 2 × shafts 2 × Wagner geared turbines
Power: 70,000 shp
Propellers:
Speed: 38.7 knots
Range: 1,825 nautical miles at 19 knots
Crew: 325 men and officers
Armament:
5 × 12.7 cm L/45 SK C/34
carried 600 rounds
4 × 3.7 cm L/83 SK C/30
carried 8000 rounds
6 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
carried 12000 rounds
8 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30 after mid 1942
carried 16000 rounds
8 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes
8 torpedo's carried
4 × depth charge launchers
60 mines
Armour
Aircraft:
Variants:
Other: Destroyers
Articles:
Downloads:
Film Clips: Kriegsmarine
Film Footage
13 May 1937
The destroyer Richard Beitzen iscommissioned.
1 September 1939
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out operations in the
Danzig Beight along with Köln, Leipzig, and Nürnberg.
12 to 13 December 1939
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operation
against Newcastle. Along with the destroyers, Erich Steinbrinck,
Bruno Heinemann, Friedirch Ihn and Hermann Künne. On the way
back meet up with light cruisers Nürnberg, Leipzig and Köln.
Nürnberg and Köln are both hit by torpedoes from the British
submarine HMS Salmon escort the returning ships.
6 to 7 January 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operations
against the Thames estuary. Along with the destroyers Friedrich
Ihn, Friedrich Eckold, Erich Steinbrinck, Hermann Schoemann
and Karl Galster.
10 to 11 January 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operations
against Newcastle. Along with the destroyers Anton Schmitt,
Karl Galster, Wilhlem Heidkamp, Friedrich Ihn and Friedrich
Eckold.
9 to 10 February 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operations
along with the destroyers Hermann Schoemann, Wilhlem Heidkamp
Max Schulz, Theodor Riedel and Friedrich Eckold.
22 February 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen takes part in operation
Wikinger (German sortie into the North Sea) along with Erich
Koellner, Friedrich Eckold, Max Schulz, Leberecht Maaas, and
Theodor Riedel, They receive orders to proceed against British
shipping at Dogger Bank. On the way there a Luftwaffe bomber
attacks the destroyers, sinking the Lebercht Maas. During
the rescue of Lebercht Maas crew, Max Schulz hits a mine and
is lost with all hands
29 to 30 April 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts the minelayers Roland,
Preussen and Kaiser, Along with Bruno Heinemann and the torpedo
boats Wolf, Möwe, Kondor and Leopard, during the course of
laying mines the torpedo boat Leopard is rammed and lost by
the mine layer Kaiser.
9 May 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts the minelayers, Kaiser,
Preussen, Roland and Corba, Along with Bruno Heinemann and
Hermann Schoemann and the torpedo boat Greif plus three S-boats
during the course of operation British aircraft are detected
and the operation cancelled.
17 to 18 April 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operations
in the North Sea along with the destroyers Bruno Heinemann
and Hermann Schoemann.
19 to 20 April 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out mine laying operations
in the North Sea along with the destroyers Bruno Heinemann
and Hermann Schoemann.
20 to 22 October 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Brest.
24 to 25 November 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out operations against
Plymouth along with the destroyers Hans Lody, Karl Galster,
they engage several British patrol boats and sink two
28 to 29 November 1940
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out its second operation
against Plymouth along with the destroyers Hans Lody, Karl
Galster, they engage several British patrol boats and sink
three.
21 January 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Rotterdam.
23 to 24 January 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts the minelayers, Roland,
Kaiser and Corba, while they carry out mine laying operations
against the British South East Coast. Along with the torpedo
boat Seeadler and Iltis.
28 to 30 January 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Brest along
with torpedo boats Kondor, Seeadler and Iltis.
1 to 2 February 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts heavy cruiser Admiral
Hipper while leaving Brest. Along with the torpedo boat Seeadler
and Kondor.
13 to 14 February 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts heavy cruiser Admiral
Hipper while returning to Brest. Along with the torpedo boat
Seeadler and Kondor.
16 to 18 March 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Germany.
1 to 2 July 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Bergen along
with Hans Lody.
4 to 11 July 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Kirkenes along
with the rest of 6th destroyer flotilla Herman Schoemann,
Friedrich Eckold, Karl Galster, and Hans Lody.
12 to 16 July 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out operations along
with the rest of 6th destroyer flotilla Herman Schoemann,
Friedrich Eckold, Karl Galster, and Hans Lody. And sink two
Russian patrol boats.
22 to 24 July 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out operations along
with the rest of 6th destroyer flotilla Herman Schoemann,
Friedrich Eckold, and Karl Galster. And sink one Russian patrol
boat and one floatplane.
4 to 5 August 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts troop ships in North
Norway along with Friedrich Eckold.
9 to 10 August 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen carries out operations near
Kola inlet. Along with Friedrich Eckold, and Hans Lody. And
sinks one Russian patrol boat SKR 12 Tuman Richard Beitzen
is damaged by coastal artillery.
14 to 17 August 1941
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is escorted by the torpedo boats
Iltis and Seeadler.
14 to 17 January 1942
The destroyer Richard Beitzen escorts battleship Tirpitz to
the Trondheimfjord. Along with Paul Jakobi, Bruno Heinemann
and Z29.
18 to 20 January 1942
The destroyers Richard Beitzen returns to Germany along with
Bruno Heinemann , Paul Jakobi and Z29.
24 to 26 January 1942
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Le Havre along
with Herman Schoemann, Paul Jakobi and Bruno Heinemann. During
the journey Bruno Heinemann is struck by two mines and is
lost.
27 to 28 January 1942
The destroyer Richard Beitzen is transferred to Brest along
with Paul Jacobi.
1945
The destroyers Richard Beitzen is seized as a prize of war
by the British.
1947
The destroyers Richard Beitzenis broken up, and scrapped.
Hans
Gadow
Takes command on May 1937
Ends command on May 1938
Moritz
Schmidt
Takes command on May 1938
Ends command on October 1939
Hans
von Davidson
Takes command on November 1939
Ends command on January 1943
Hans
Dominik
Takes command on January 1943
Ends command on January 1944
Lüdde
Neurath
Takes command on April 1944
Ends command on June 1944
Rudolf
Gade
Takes command on June 1944
Ends command on September 1944
Helmut
Neuss
Takes command on September 1944
Ends command on May 1945
German Warships, 1815-1945: Major Surface Vessels.
ISBN-10: 0851775330
German Warships, 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.
ISBN-10: 155750301X
German warships of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0668040378
For a complete list of
sources
