Z 38

Vessel name on Arrival: HMS Nonsuch

Original Builder: Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft of Kiel, Germany

Original Yard No: 628

Official Number:

Vessel Type: destroyer

GRT: 2603

Year Built: 1942

Arrival Date: 16/05/1950

Breakup Started: 21/05/1950

Date First Beached: 04/07/1950

Date Breakup Completed: 20/02/1951

Draught For’d: 12' 0"

Draught Aft: 15' 0"

Name Changes:

 

1941  :  Launched as the German Narvik-Class Destroyer Z-38

1945  :  Renamed HMS Nonsuch when taken over as war reparation  –  Pennant Nos. R 40 and D 107

Other Information:

 

Twin-Screw Destroyer HMS NONSUCH  (ex German Destroyer Z-38)            Pennant Nos. R40 / D107

 

19-09-1939  :  Ordered by the Kriegsmarine

15-04-1940  :  Keel laid down

05-08-1941  :  Launched

20-03-1943  :  Completed

 

Tonnages  (Displacement)  :  2,603 tons / 3,597 tons

 

Dimensions  :  127 metres  x  12 metres  x  4.62 metres

 

Propulsion  :  Wagner geared steam turbines developing 70,000 SHP / 6 x Wagner Boilers at 70 kg/cm2

 

Vessel Design Speed  :  37.5 knots                          Vessel Range  :  2,239 nautical miles at 19 knots

 

Complement  :  320 – 332 Officers and Men

 

Initially, served the Kriegsmarine in the Baltic and later off Norway.  Was part of the 4th Flotilla Destroyer which was in action with two British Light Cruisers off Bergen in late January 1945.

 

Seized as war reparation at Flensburg in May 1945.

 

Following acquisition by the Royal Navy was first used for trials and evaluation then served as an Air Target Ship until paid off in late 1948.

 

Following this the vessel was used for underwater explosion testing in Loch Striven, Scotland, after which she was disposed of for breaking by the West of Scotland Shipbreaking Company at their Troon facility, where she arrived on 17th of May 1950.