German destroyer Z2 Georg Thiele

Z1 Leberecht Maass
Sister ship Z1 Leberecht Maass
History
Germany
NameZ2 Georg Thiele
NamesakeGeorg Thiele
Ordered7 July 1934
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Laid down25 October 1934
Launched18 August 1935
Commissioned27 February 1937
IdentificationZ2
FateBeached, 13 April 1940
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeType 1934-class destroyer
Displacement
Length
  • 119 m (390 ft 5 in) o/a
  • 114 m (374 ft 0 in) w/l
Beam11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draft4.23 m (13 ft 11 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range1,530 nmi (2,830 km; 1,760 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement325
Armament
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.