Profile drawing of Z19 Hermann Künne
123,40 mOverall length
3415 tMaximum displacement
40,45 knMaximum speed
323Complement

Design and service

The story of Z19 Hermann Künne

As part of the 5th destroyer division, the Z19 Hermann Künne was used to lay minefields in the North Sea (Westwall) in September 1939, followed by four mine laying operation off the British coast until February 1940. During in Operation Weserübung the ship was part of the Kriegsschiffgruppe 1 heading for Narvik where it was beached on 13. 04.

1940 in the Herangsfjord near Narvik after a battle with British destroyers. The wreck was raised and screpped between 1960 and 1963.

Operational history

Service timeline

Hermann Künne is commissioned.

Training and trials.

Voyage to Norway together with destroyers Hans Lüdemann and Diether von Roeder. Because of a disabled rudder, the destroyer hits the pier in Swinemünde, but is able to join the voyage. Visted loations are Moldefjord, Loenfjord and Sognefjord.

Torpedo excercises.

Participations in several mine laying operations.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Karl Galster, Friedrich Eckold, Wilhelm Heidkamp, Diether von Roeder and Hans Lüdemann against the Humber estuary.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Karl Galster, Hans Lüdemann and Wilhelm Heidkamp against the Themse estuary. The returning ships are escorted by the light cruisers Nürnberg and Köln and the torpedo boats Iltis, Leopard, Seeadler and Wolf.

Mine laying operations together with the destroyers Bernd von Arnim and Wilhelm Heidkamp against the Themse estuary. The returning ships are escorted by the light cruisers Nürnberg and Köln and the torpedo boats Iltis, Leopard, and Seeadler.

Mine laying operation together with the destroyers Erich Steinbrinck, Bruno Heinemann, Friedrich Ihn and Richard Beitzen against Newcastle. The returning ships are escorted by the light cruisers Nürnberg, Leipzig and Köln. Nürnberg and Köln are both hit by torpedoes of the British submarine Salmon.

Repairs due to salted engine system.

Operation Weserübung: 200 Army soldiers are boarded together with weapons and equippment.

Operation Weserübung: Hermann Künne joins the destroyers Georg Thiele, Wolfgang Zenker, Anton Schmitt, Erich Giese, Bernd von Arnim, Diether von Roeder, Erich Koellner, Hans Lüdemann and Wilhelm Heidkamp in the Narvik Attack Group.

Operation Weserübung: Herman Künne unloads its troops at Elvegaard. Aftr that the ship sails to Narvik harbor to refuel.

Operation Weserübung: Patrol duties at the Ofotfjord. At 02:30 the destroyer returns to Narvik for refueling. 05:30: While refuelling the ship is attacked by British destroyers. The nearby located destroyer Anton Schmitt is sunk after a torpedo hit and damages the Herman Künne, disableing it for one hour. 07:00: Repairs at the post pier.

Operation Weserübung: Patrol dutiees.

Operation Weserübung: 10:30: Send to Taarstad for patrols 12:10: Herman Künne detects nine incomeing destroyers and the battleship Warspite. 13:55: After running out of fuel and ammunition, the destroyer is scuttled in the Herjangsfjord. The British destroyer Eskimo fires torpedoes on the sinking ship. The ship is sunk by an exploding depth charge, the bow part went down at once, the stern was still float for three days.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
3415 t
Length (Total)
123,40 m
Length (Waterline)
120,00 m
Beam
11,75 m
Draft
4,50 m
Crew
323

Armament

12,7 cm L/45 C/34 (5")
5
3,7 cm L/83 C/30
4
2 cm MG L/65 C/30
4
53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
8
Mines
60
Depth Charge launcher
4

Machinery

Shafts
2
Turbines
2
Type
Wagner (Deschimag build)

Performance

Total Performance
74482
Speed
40,45 kn
Range
2050 miles at 19 kn

Construction record

Z19 Hermann Künne

Laid down
Deschimag Bremen, 05.10.1936
Launched
22.12.1937
Commissioned
12.01.1939
Fate
beached on 13.04.1940
Cost
12,87 Mio Reichsmark