View source for German destroyer Z27

{{Short description|Destroyer}}
{{good article}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Z 29-ZerstoererTyp36A-USN Photo from 1945.jpg
|Ship caption=[[Sister ship]] {{ship|German destroyer|Z29||2}}, 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''Z27''
|Ship ordered=23 April 1938
|Ship builder=[[AG Weser]] ([[Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG|Deschimag]]), [[Bremen]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=W961
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=27 December 1939
|Ship launched=1 August 1940
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship commissioned=26 February 1941
|Ship fate=Sunk, 28 December 1943
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class=[[Type 1936A destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|2543|LT|t|0|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{convert|3543|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|127|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[o/a]])
|Ship beam= {{convert|12|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft= {{convert|4.43|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 × shafts; 2 × geared [[steam turbine]] sets
|Ship speed= {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= {{convert|2500|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|19|kn}}
|Ship power=*6 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
*{{convert|70000|PS|kW shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=332
|Ship armament=*1 × twin, 2 × single [[15 cm TbtsK C/36 naval gun|{{convert|15|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} guns]]
* 2 × twin [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft guns]]
* 7 × single [[2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling|{{convert|2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}]] AA guns
* 2 × quadruple {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
* 4 × [[depth charge]] launchers
* 60 [[naval mine|mines]]
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=
|partof=
|codes=
|commanders=[[Karl Smidt]]
|operations=
|victories=
|awards=
}}
|}

'''''Z27''''' was one of fifteen [[Type 1936A destroyer]]s built for the ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' (German Navy) during [[World War II]]. Completed in 1941, the ship was transferred to [[Norway|Norwegian waters]] later that year where she remained for most of the next several years, escorting [[convoy]]s and laying [[minefield]]s. She sank a Soviet [[oil tanker]] in late 1942 before sailing to Germany for a refit. Upon its completion in mid-1943, ''Z27'' returned to Norway and participated in [[Operation Zitronella]], the raid on the island of [[Spitsbergen]] in September.

The ship sailed to France the following month and became the [[flagship]] of the ''8. Zerstörerflottile'' (8th Destroyer Flotilla) upon her arrival. The flotilla was tasked to escort several [[blockade runner]]s through the [[Bay of Biscay]] in December despite Allied efforts to find and sink them. The first ship made it through the gauntlet successfully, but the second one was found and sunk while the German ships were en route to the rendezvous point. They were intercepted by a pair of British [[light cruiser]]s and ''Z27'' was sunk during the ensuing [[Battle of the Bay of Biscay]] on 28 December, with the loss of approximately 300 of her crew.

==Design and description==
[[File:Narvik-class destroyer.jpg|thumb|left|Wartime Allied recognition manual drawing of the Type 36A destroyer]]
The Type 1936A destroyers were slightly larger than the preceding Type 1936 [[ship class|class]] and had a heavier armament. They had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|127|m|ftin|sp=us}} and were {{convert|121.90|m|ftin|sp=us}} [[Length at the waterline|long at the waterline]]. The ships had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|12|m|ftin|sp=us}}, and a maximum [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|4.62|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They displaced {{convert|2543|LT|t|sp=us}} at [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard load]] and {{convert|3543|LT|t|sp=us}} at [[deep load]]. The two Wagner geared [[steam turbine]] sets, each driving one [[propeller shaft]], were designed to produce {{convert|70000|PS|kW shp|lk=on|abbr=on}} using steam provided by six Wagner [[water-tube boiler]]s for a designed speed of {{convert|36|kn|lk=on}}. ''Z27'' carried a maximum of {{convert|791|t|LT|0|sp=us}} of [[fuel oil]] which gave a range of {{convert|2500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|19|kn}}. Her crew consisted of 11 officers and 321 sailors.<ref name=g9>Gröner, pp. 203–04</ref>

The ship carried four [[15 cm TbtsK C/36 naval gun|{{convert|15|cm|1|adj=on|sp=us}} TbtsK C/36 guns]] in single mounts with [[gun shield]]s, one forward of the [[superstructure]] and three aft. Her [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] armament consisted of four [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|1|adj=on|sp=us}} C/30]] guns in two twin mounts abreast the rear [[funnel (ship)|funnel]] and seven [[2 cm FlaK 30/38/Flakvierling|{{convert|2|cm|1|adj=on|sp=us}} C/30]] guns in single mounts. ''Z27'' carried eight above-water {{convert|53.3|cm|in|adj=on|sp=us|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s in two power-operated mounts.<ref name=g9/> Two reloads were provided for each mount. She had four [[depth charge]] launchers and mine rails could be fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 60 [[naval mine|mines]]. 'GHG' (''[[Gruppenhorchgerät]]'') passive [[hydrophone]]s were fitted to detect [[submarine]]s and an ''S-Gerät'' [[sonar]] was also probably fitted. The ship was equipped with a ''FuMO'' 24/25 [[radar]] set above the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]].<ref name=g9/><ref>Koop & Schmolke, p. 179</ref><ref>Whitley, pp. 68, 71–72</ref>

===Modifications===
While precise data is unavailable, ''Z27'' probably received a pair of 2&nbsp;cm quadruple mounts during 1942, most likely replacing several single mounts.<ref>Koop & Schmolke, p. 108</ref>

==Construction and career==
''Z27'' was ordered from [[AG Weser]] ([[Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG|Deschimag]]) on 23 April 1938. The ship was [[laid down]] at Deschimag's [[Bremen]] shipyard as yard number W961 on 27 December 1939, [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 1 August 1940, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 26 February 1941. Her first commander was ''[[Korvettenkapitän]]'' (Lieutenant Commander) [[Karl Smidt]]. While still [[Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#W|working up]], she was assigned to escort the Baltic Fleet, a temporary formation built around the [[battleship]] {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2}}, as it [[sortie]]d into the [[Sea of Åland]] on 23–29 September to forestall any attempt by the Soviet [[Red Banner Baltic Fleet]] to breakout from the [[Gulf of Finland]].<ref>Koop & Schmolke, pp. 24, 108; Rohwer, p. 103</ref>

Two months later ''Z27'' accompanied her sister ships, {{ship|German destroyer|Z23||2}} and {{ship|German destroyer|Z25||2}}, from Germany to Norway and arrived in Tromsø on 6 December where she was briefly assigned to the ''8. Zerstörerflottile''. She was one of four destroyers that sailed into the [[Barents Sea]] on 16 December, searching for [[Allies of World War 2|Allied]] ships off the coast of the [[Kola Peninsula]]. The following day, ''Z25''{{'}}s radar spotted two ships in heavy fog at a range of {{convert|37.5|km|sp=us}}. The Germans thought that they were Soviet destroyers, but they were actually two British [[minesweeper]]s, {{HMS|Hazard|J02|2}} and {{HMS|Speedy|J17|2}}, sailing to rendezvous with [[Convoy QP 6]]. The Germans intercepted them, but the heavy fog and icing precluded accurate gunfire. The British ships were able to escape despite four hits on ''Speedy'' and the heavy expenditure of ammunition; ''Z25'' and ''Z27'' attempted to fire 11 torpedoes between them, but were only able to launch one each. ''Z27'' then developed problems with her propeller shaft and sailed for Germany on 5 January 1942 to begin a refit. The ship returned to Norway on May and took part in the preliminaries of [[Operation Rösselsprung (1942)|Operation Rösselsprung]], an attempt to intercept [[Convoy PQ 17]] in early July. The heavy cruisers ''{{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Scheer||2}}'' and her sister ''[[German cruiser Deutschland|Lützow]]'' formed one group in Narvik with ''Z27'' and four of her sisters while ''Tirpitz'' and the heavy cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}} composed another. While en route to the rendezvous at the [[Altafjord]], ''Lützow'' and three destroyers of ''Tirpitz''{{'}}s escort [[Ship grounding|ran aground]], forcing the entire group to abandon the operation. On 13–15 October, ''Z27'', her sister {{ship|German destroyer|Z30||2}} and the destroyers {{ship|German destroyer|Z4 Richard Beitzen||2}}, {{ship|German destroyer|Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt||2}} laid a minefield off the [[Kanin Peninsula]] at the mouth of the [[White Sea]] that sank the {{ship|Soviet icebreaker|Mikoyan}}. Three weeks later, the same four destroyers escorted ''Admiral Hipper'' as she attempted to intercept Allied merchant ships proceeding independently to Soviet ports in early November. While searching for convoy traffic at the far end of the patrol line, ''Z27'' was alerted to the presence of a tanker by the ''Admiral Hipper''{{'}}s [[float plane]] on 7 November and set off in pursuit. The destroyer first intercepted and sank the [[submarine chaser]] ''BO-78'' then caught up to and sank the westbound {{GRT|8,000|disp=adj|link=}} Soviet oil tanker ''[[Donbass (ship)|Donbass]]'', rescuing survivors from both ships.<ref>Koope & Schmolke, p. 108; Rohwer, pp. 127, 202, 207; Whitley, pp. 131–32, 142</ref>

On 2 December, ''Z27'' sailed to Bremen to begin a refit, returning to Norway on 15 June 1943. Together with ''Z30'', she conducted several minelaying missions off southern Norway between 19 and 28 June. The ship took part in the raid on the island of Spitsbergen in September, during which she landed troops on the island. On the 24th she was one of four destroyers escorting ''Lützow'' to [[Kiel]], Germany, and then proceeded to France on 31 October, together with the destroyer {{ship|German destroyer|ZH1||2}}. During the voyage to [[Le Verdon-sur-Mer]], both ships were slightly damaged by splinters from British [[coastal artillery]] as they passed through the [[English Channel]]. On 5 November they were unsuccessfully attacked by British [[motor torpedo boat]]s off [[Cap d'Antifer]], damaging several of their assailants. Now the flagship of ''[[Kapitän zur See]]'' (Captain) [[Hans Erdmenger]], commander of the ''8. Zerstörerflotille'', the ship was one of the escorts for the {{GRT|6951|link=off}} blockade runner {{MV|Osorno}} through the Bay of Biscay.<ref>Koope & Schmolke, p. 108; Rohwer, pp. 257, 277, 284, 294–95; Whitley, pp. 148, 167</ref>

===Battle of the Bay of Biscay===
{{main|Battle of the Bay of Biscay}}
Another blockade runner, the {{GRT|2729|link=off}} [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo ship]] {{MV|Alsterufer}}, trailed ''Osorno'' by several days and four destroyers, including ''Z27'', of the ''8. Flotille'' and six torpedo boats of the ''4. Torpedobootflotille'' (4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla) set sail on 27 December to escort her through the bay. The Allies were aware of these blockade runners through their [[Ultra (cryptography)|Ultra]] [[signal intelligence|code-breaking]] efforts and positioned [[cruiser]]s and aircraft in the Western Atlantic to intercept them in [[Operation Stonewall]]. A [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator#British Commonwealth nomenclature and sub-variants|Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] [[heavy bomber]] from [[No. 311 Squadron RAF]] sank ''Alsterufer'' later that afternoon.<ref>Rohwer, p. 295; Whitley, p. 149</ref>

The German ships were unaware of the sinking until the following afternoon and continued onward to the rendezvous point. They had been spotted by an American Liberator bomber on the morning of the 28th and the British light cruisers {{HMS|Glasgow|C21|2}} and {{HMS|Enterprise|D52|2}}, which were assigned to Stonewall, maneuvered to intercept them. By this time, the weather had gotten significantly worse and the German ships were steaming for home, hampered by the rough seas that threw spray over their forward guns that made them very hard to work. In addition the spray severely reduced visibility and hampered the [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]]s and sights for the guns and torpedoes. Using her radar, ''Glasgow'' was the first to open fire at the closest German ships, ''Z27'' and her sister ''Z23'', at 13:46 at a range of {{convert|19600|m|yd|sp=us}} with ''Enterprise'' following a few minutes later. ''Z23'' fired six torpedoes once the range closed to {{convert|17000|m|yd|sp=us}}, but they all missed. About that time, the destroyers began firing back. At 14:28 ''Z27'' fired a spread of four torpedoes, which also missed, shortly after Erdmenger decided to split his forces and ordered ''Z23'', ''Z27'', and three torpedo boats to reverse course to the north. Seven minutes later, ''Z27'' fired the rest of her ready torpedoes, all of which missed their target. The British ships pursued the northern group and a shell from ''Enterprise'' hit the destroyer in No. 2 [[Fire room|boiler room]] shortly afterwards, severing the starboard main steam line, which forced the evacuation of the boiler room and knocked out the starboard turbine. The effects of the damage began to accumulate and the other boilers began to fail over the next hour or so, as did the feed pumps for the port turbine. While pursuing the scattered German forces several hours later, ''Glasgow'' spotted the drifting ''Z27'' and closed to [[point-blank range]] before sinking her with gunfire at 16:41. A total of 93 men were rescued by a German submarine, Spanish destroyers, and an [[Irish Free State|Irish]] [[Cargo ship|merchantman]], {{MV|Kerlogue}}, but about 300 crewmen were killed.<ref>Koop & Schmolke, p. 108; Rohwer, p. 295; Whitley, pp. 149–156</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{Cite book |last=Gröner|first=Erich|title=German Warships 1815&ndash;1945|year=1990 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|volume=1: Major Surface Warships|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-790-9|author-link=Erich Gröner}}
* {{cite book |last1=Koop |first1=Gerhard|last2=Schmolke |first2=Klaus-Peter|title=German Destroyers of World War II |year=2003 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-59114-307-1|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005 |edition=Third Revised |isbn=1-59114-119-2|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
*{{cite book |last=Whitley|first=M. J. |title=German Destroyers of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1991 |isbn=978-1-55750-302-2|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}

==External links==
* [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/destroyer/index.html Kriegsmarine destroyers]

{{Type 1936 destroyers}}
{{December 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Z27}}
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)]]
[[Category:Type 1936A-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1943]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]