ZH1
History


1931: Laid down

9 May, 1940: Launched, commissioned

14 May, 1940: Dutch Isaac Sweers class destroyer Gerard Callenburgh scuttled at Rotterdam to prevent capture by Germans, following unsuccessful attempts to tow her to England. Refloated by Germans and towed to Hamburg.

31 Oct, 1943: Departed German blight in company with Z27.

02 Nov, 1943: Arrived Rotterdam

03 Nov, 1943: Fired upon by British coastal batteries while sailing up the English Channel. Arrived Dunkirk

04 Nov, 1943: In action against RN MTBs. Arrived La Harve.

05 Nov, 1943: Arrived at the Gironde, Bay of Biscay.

24 Dec, 1943: As part of 8th Destroyer Flotilla sortied with 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla to meet blockade runner Osorno and escort her into port. (6xDD and 6xTB total)

25 Dec, 1943: Repelled RAF attacks in Bay of Biscay.

26 Dec, 1943: Returned to the Gironde with Osorno. (She flounders against a wreak in the channel and has to be beached to save her cargo.)

27 Dec, 1943: Developed condenser problems and remained in port, missing another sortie by the 8th DD FLOT and 4th TB FLOT to meet blockage runner Alsteriufer.

9-11 Mar, 1944: In company with Z23 T27 and T29 escorted U-Boats passing through the Bay of Biscay

16-17 Mar, 1944: Escorted U-Boats in northern Bay of Biscay with same companions.

19-20 Mar, 1944: Escorted U-Boats in northern Bay of Biscay with same companions and also TBs Greif and Mowe

06 Jun, 1944: Departs the Gironde with the 8th DD FLOT (ZH1, Z32, Z24). The British had fore-knowledge of this movement six hours before the Germans put out, thanks to ULTRA. Attacked by 31 Beaufighters and eight Mosquitos at 2030 hours 30 miles west of the Isle de Normoutier, near Saint Nazire. Minimal damanged suffered by Z32.

07 Jun, 1944: At Brest.

08 Jun, 1944: Departs Brest. Force augmented by T24. Mission was to make an offensive sweep against southbound convoys reinforcing the Normandy beachhead.

09 Jun, 1944: 0115 hours KMS force intercepted by British 10th DD FLOT (RN Tartar, RN Ashanti, RCN Haida and RCN Huron.) ZH1, second ship in the German line fired two torpedoes without effect, then shortly after the British and Canadians opened fire at 0125, she was hit six times by 4.7" shells. Two hits in the boiler and starboard engine rooms respectively did particular damage. ZH1 drifted to a stop on fire and wreathed in smoke as the battle moved away from her temporarily. At 0215 she was re-engaged by Tartar and Ashanti which encounted her, still drifting and still on fire, in the course of fighting Z32. ZH1 fired her remaining 4.7" gun at Tarter and was torpedoed twice by Ashanti from point blank range, blowing her bow off from the breakwater forward. She scuttled herself with depthcharges at 0240. She sank west of the Ile de Batz where 29 of her crew found refuge; 140 others were rescued by British ships and 38 men were lost.
Commanders
Stats
Displacement, standard/full load (tons) 1,922/2,228
Length, oa, wl 107/105m
Beam/draught 10.6/3m
Machinery 2 shafts, Parsons turbines, 3 boilers 45,000shp, 37.5 knots, 4 diesels,
12,400bhp, 32 knots
Main Battery 5x120mm/60 C28 (4.7") (2x2, 1x1)
Anti Air Battery 4x37mm/83 C30 (2x2), 4x20mm C38 (2x2)
Torpedo 8x533mm (4x3) (21")
Crew 230