Operation Weserübung: Paul Jakobi joins the destroyers Friedrich Eckold, Bruno Heinemann, and Theodor Riedel in the Trondheim Attack Group.
119,0 mOverall length
3110 tMaximum displacement
36,4 knMaximum speed
325Complement
Design and service
The story of Z5 Paul Jakobi
During in Operation Weserübung the Paul Jakobi was part of the Kriegsschiffgruppe 2 heading for Trondheim. Assigned to the 5th destroyer flotilla, the ship was first stationed in Norway. In January 1942, the 5th destroyer flotilla was transferred to France to support Operation Cerberus in February of 1942.
After this, the ship was again send to Norway, operating with the major Kriegsmarine ships in this area until November 1943. Paul Jakobi was then used for escort duties between Norway and Germany and patrols at Jutland and was severely damaged during an air raid in Kiel in December 1943. After being repaired, the ship took part in the evacuation of East Prussia in the final days of the war and was decommissioned on 07.05.1945. Taken over by the British, given to France in February 1946.
Renamed as Desaix, in service until 17.02.1954.
Later used as hulk Q02, scrapped 1958.
Operational history
Service timeline
Transfer of the damaged Gneisenau back to Germany, the battleship is escorted by light cruiser Nürnberg and the destroyers Hans Lody, Paul Jakobi, Friedrich Ihn and Karl Galster, the torpedo boats Iltis, Jaguar, Kondor, Luchs and T5.
Together with the destroyer Karl Galster and the torpedo boats Falke, Iltis, Jaguar, Kondor, T5 and T7, the Paul Jakobi escorts the mine layers Corba, Roland and Tanneberg while laying the mine field SW2. The mine layers carry 600 mines.
Mine laying operation SW3. Together with the destroyers Erich Steinbrinck and Karl Galster and the torpedo boats Falke, Greif, Iltis, Jaguar, T5, T6, T7 and T8 thePaul Jakobi escorts the mine layers Corba, Roland and Tannenberg. The mine layers carry about 600 mines.
Transferred to Brest.
Mine laying operation at Falmouth Bay together with the destroyers Friedrich Eckold, Theodor Riedel, Hans Lody, Karl Galster, Paul Jakobi, Friedrich Ihn and Erich Steinbrinck.
Paul Jakobi, Theodor Riedel, Friedrich Eckold, Erich Steinbrinck and Friedrich Ihn are returned to Germany.
The destroyers Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Z29 escort the battleship Tirpitz to the Trondheimfjord.
Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Z29 return to Germany.
Transfer of Richard Beitzen, Bruno Heinemann, Paul Jakobi and Herman Schoemann to Le Havre. Bruno Heinemann is lost during the transfer because of two mine hits.
Richard Beitzen and Paul Jacobi are sent to Brest.
During gunnery drills, the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen is escorted by Richard Beitzen and Paul Jacobi.
Operation "Cerberus": On board of Z29, the "Füher der Zerstöer" and the destroyers Richard Beitzen, Paul Jakobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn, Z25 and the torpedo boats T2, T4, T4, T11, T13, T15, T16, T17 Seeadler, Kondor, Jaguar, Falke and iescort the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen through the Channel from Brest ot Germany.
Richard Beitzen, Paul Jacobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn, Z25 and the torpedo boat Jaguar escort the heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer on their way to Bergen.
Transfer of the 5th destroyer flotilla consisting of Richard Beitzen, Paul Jacobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn and Z25 to Trondheim.
Paul Jakobi and T12 join the Arctic Sea operation of battleship Tirpitz with additional escorts Friedrich Ihn, Hermann Schoemann, Z25, T5.
Paul Jakobi, Z25, T11 and T12 escort the damaged cruiser Prinz Eugen back to Germany.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 3110 t
- Length (Total)
- 119,0 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 114,0 m
- Beam
- 11,3 m
- Draft
- 4,23 m
- Crew
- 325
Armament
- 12,7 cm L/45 C/36
- 5 (4 since 1944)
- 3,7 cm L/83 C/30
- 4
- 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
- 6 (10 since 1944)
- 53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
- 8
- Mines
- 60
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Wagner Geared Turbines
Performance
- Total Performance
- 72100 shp
- Speed
- 36,4 kn
- Range
- 2040 sm at 19 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Z5 Paul Jakobi
- Laid down
- Deschimag Bremen, 15.07.1935
- Launched
- 24.03.1936
- Commissioned
- 29.06.1937
- Fate
- scrapped 1958
- Cost
- 12,7 Mio Reichsmark