German destroyer Z44

Z44 was a German naval warship which operated for a short time during the latter period of World War II. She was a Type 1936B destroyer, laid down during 1942 at Deschimag in Bremen and launched on 20 January 1944. She was heavily damaged in an air attack on 29 July 1944, prior to the planned date of her commissioning in August 1944. Z44 was eventually scrapped between April 1948 and February 1949.

Design
Z44 was a Type 1936B-class destroyer, which meant that the twin 15.9 cm turrets positioned on the bow and stern of the ship were removed. This was because the older Type 1936A class of destroyers were deemed less stable. Thetwin turrets, which were planned to have been used on the s but diverted due to time constraints were removed and replaced with five single 12.7 cm turrets, along with more anti-aircraft defences. Besides that, the ship retained the main characteristics of the 1936A class. They displaced 2527 t, and were manned by 321 sailors and officers. Although they had a maximum speed of 38 kn, their range was 6200 m at 19 kn. Her main armament of five 12.7 cm SK C/34 naval guns could be depressed to −10° and raised to 30°. They had an arc of fire of 360°, meaning that they could rotate a full circle, able to fire at any given point. The guns fired 28 kg high-explosive shells at a muzzle velocity of 830 m/s to a range of 17400 m. The destroyer also carried four 3.7 cm anti-aircraft guns and six 2 cm anti-aircraft guns in pairs. She had eight 53.3 cm torpedo tubes and, when fitted as a minelayer, could carry 76 mines.