Z1 Leberecht Maaß Destroyer

Service Data

In Service: 14 January 1937 to 22 February 1940

Production Data

Ordered:
Builder: Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Construction No: 242
Laid down: 15 October 1934
Launched: 18 August 1935
Commissioned: 14 January 1937

Technical Data

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 producing up to 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:
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:

Other: Destroyers
Articles:

History

Career

14 January 1937
The destroyer Leberecht Maaß is commissioned.

1 September 1939
The destroyer Leberecht Maaß carries out operations in the Danzig Beight along with Köln, Leipzig, and Nürnberg.

3 September 1939
The destroyer Leberecht Maaß and her sister ship Wolfgang Zenker engage Polish forces Gryf Polish minelayer, Wicher Polish destroyer, Polish coastal batteries at Hela. Leberecht Maaß sustained one hit.

22 February 1940
The destroyer Leberecht Maaß takes part in operation Wikinger (German sortie into the North Sea) along with Erich Koellner, Friedrich Eckold, Max Schulz, Richard Beitzen, 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

22 February 1940
The destroyer Leberecht Maaß is attacked by a Luftwaffe bomber the ship is lost. 282 crew lost.

Commanders

Friedrich Traugott Schmitt
Takes command on 14 January 1937
Ends command on 29 September 1937

Willy Wagner
Takes command on October 1937
Ends command on April 1939

Fritz Bassenge
Takes command on April 1939
Ends command on February 1940

Gallery

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Sources

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