 Sister ship Z1 Leberecht Maass
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Germany | |
| Name | Z2 Georg Thiele |
| Namesake | Georg Thiele |
| Ordered | 7 July 1934 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Laid down | 25 October 1934 |
| Launched | 18 August 1935 |
| Commissioned | 27 February 1937 |
| Identification | Z2 |
| Fate | Beached, 13 April 1940 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Type 1934-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 4.23 m (13 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range | 1,530 nmi (2,830 km; 1,760 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Complement | 325 |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Commanders: | Max-Eckart Wolff |
The German destroyer Z2 Georg Thiele was one of four Type 1934-class destroyers built for the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) during the mid-1930s. She was named after Georg Thiele, a Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) who commanded the Seventh Half Flotilla of torpedo boats. Completed in 1937, two years before the start of World War II, the ship spent most of her time training although she did participate in the occupation of Memel in early 1939.
At the beginning of World War II, the ship was initially deployed to blockade the Polish coast, but she was quickly transferred to the German Bight to lay minefields in German waters. During the early stages of the Norwegian Campaign, in April 1940, Z2 Georg Thiele fought in both naval Battles of Narvik, on 10 and 13 April, and had to be beached to allow her crew to abandon ship safely after she had been severely damaged by British fire. The ship, having broken up, is now a popular diving site.