When war came the German Navy was not ready. Hitler had promised that war would not begin until 1944 at the earliest and the German ship construction program was only in its infancy. The destroyer force found itself outnumbered by more than four to one but in spite of this, was able to achieve some success in the first year. Aggressive mining operations accounted for the majority of their victories. The destroyers sortied many times into the channel and held their own in encounters with the Royal Navy. Then, in 1940, the German destroyer force suffered two setbacks from which they were never able to recover.

On the evening on February 22, 1940 a group of six type 34 destroyers was attacked by twin engine aircraft while on a sortie. The aircraft bombed and sank two ships, Maass and Eckholdt. The aircraft had been identified by destroyer officers as German (He-111) and when the subsequent investigation was completed it was determined that they had indeed been sunk by "friendly" planes. Not only was this a blow to morale but it did little to lessen the almost natural animosity between the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe.

The second blow soon followed. The British and the Germans were both eyeing neutral Norway as a potential strategic next move. The Germans struck first and invaded on April 9, 1940. This was a Navy operation, almost all of the available surface forces participated. The British reaction was swift and in a series of vicious surface actions in the confined waters of the Norwegian fjords the Germans losses were heavy. Although the victory went to Germany, the cost to the Kriegsmarine was catastrophic. Operation "Weserubung" (Norway) cost the navy the loss of the cruisers Blucher, Karlsruhe, and Konigsberg, three torpedo boats and ten destroyers, over half of the total operational units! After Norway the destroyers were on the same operational leash as the cruisers and battleships. They could no longer be used aggressively. High command could no longer regard them as expendable!

For the remainder of the war most of their time was spent in northern waters. Much time was spent at anchor in fjords and operational skills declined from neglect. Remaining units continued mining operations but now they were defensive. Like their British counterparts, German destroyers had refits consisting of additional anti-aircraft weapons fitted. Unlike British practice, these were added without deleting torpedo capacity. This was probably not a wise decision as there were few opportunities for launching torpedoes apart from practice.

The drawings show Type 34A (Z-5 through Z-16) vessels (modified Maass) as they were built and as they were re-armed at the end of the war. The next group were collectively known as the Type 36, (Z-17 through Z-22) or in allied intelligence sources as the Von Roeder class. The drawing of Z-20 is typical of the class, both as they entered service and at the end of the war. These vessels were an improvement over the Z-1 to Z-16 with a longer hull, lower drag, better stability and improved seakeeping qualities. As a model subject. they are easier to do than the Maass as the hull is closer to the size of the Z-37/39 kit. Only one cut is needed and the reduction is about 1/8 of an inch. The gun platforms are larger, round in shape and easily made from .020 card. Guns are the same as in the preceding class. Note the reduced structure around the second funnel and the symmetrical mounting of the anti-aircraft guns. The bow has the same modification as the Maass: fill in the cut outs and drill conventional hawse holes. Note there is slightly more flare at the bow compared to the Maass. The bridge size and design is similar to the later Z-37-39 type which makes this a very easy conversion. Refer to part one for details of guns and to the present drawings for platform patterns.

1/700 Scale Drawings