German destroyer Z19 Hermann Künne
At the beginning of World War II in September, she was initially deployed to lay minefields off the German coast, but was soon transferred to the Skagerrak where she inspected neutral shipping for contraband goods.On 30 June, Z19 Hermann Künne and her sister Z18 Hans Lüdemann were making port visits in Norway when the former accidentally rammed the pier at Moldefjord after her rudder failed.[6] On the night of 17/18 October, Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) Günther Lütjens, aboard his flagship Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, led Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt, Z17 Diether von Roeder, Z18 Hans Lüdemann, Z19 Hermann Künne, and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid a minefield off the mouth of the River Humber.On the night of 12/13 November Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, now the flagship of the Commander of Destroyers (Führer der Zerstörer), Kapitän zur See (Captain) Friedrich Bonte, escorted Z18 Hans Lüdemann, Z19 Hermann Künne, and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid 288 magnetic mines in the Thames estuary.[7] Less than a week later, Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, Z19 Hermann Künne, and Z11 Bernd von Arnim laid 180 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary on the night of 17/18 November.Under the command of Commodore (Kommodore) Bonte in his flagship Z19 Hermann Künne, Z4 Richard Beitzen, Z8 Bruno Heinemann, Z14 Friedrich Ihn and Z15 Erich Steinbrinck laid 240 mines off the mouth of the River Tyne, where the navigation lights were still lit.[9] When they arrived off the Ofotfjord on the morning of 9 April, Z19 Hermann Künne landed her troops at the head of the Herjangsfjord and helped to capture the Norwegian Army barracks at Elvegårdsmoen.When the British destroyer hit and sank Z22 Anton Schmitt with a torpedo, Z19 Hermann Künne was only 40 meters (44 yd) away and the shock from the detonation knocked out her turbines.[11] On the night of 12/13 April, Commander (Fregattenkapitän) Erich Bey, the senior surviving German officer, received word to expect an attack the following day by British capital ships escorted by a large number of destroyers and supported by carrier aircraft.By the early afternoon, the Germans had exhausted most of their ammunition and Bey ordered his ships to retreat to the Rombaksfjorden (the easternmost branch of the Ofotfjord), east of Narvik, where they might attempt to ambush any pursuing British destroyers.
Sister shipNazi GermanyAG WeserDeschimagBremenScuttledType 1936 destroyerdeep loadwater-tube boilerssteam turbine12.7 cm (5 in) guns3.7 cm (1.5 in)AA guns2 cm (0.79 in)torpedo tubesdepth chargeType 1936 destroyersKriegsmarineoccupation of MemelWorld War IIminefieldsSkagerrakthe German invasion of NorwayNarvikFirst andSecond Naval Battles of Narvikoverall lengthlong at the waterlinepropeller shaftboilerssea trialsfuel oilnautical miles12.7-centimeter (5 in) SK C/34 gunsgun shieldssuperimposedsuperstructureanti-aircraft3.7-centimeter (1.5 in) SK C/30funnel2-centimeter (0.8 in) C/30Gruppenhorchgeräthydrophonessubmarinesgunnertorpedo boatZeebrugge Raidlaid downyard numberlaunchedcommissionedAdolf Hitlerheavy cruiserDeutschlandZ18 Hans LüdemannMoldefjordrudderSwinemündeGerman BightRear AdmiralGünther LütjensflagshipZ21 Wilhelm HeidkampZ16 Friedrich EckoldtZ17 Diether von RoederZ20 Karl GalsterminefieldRiver Humbergross register tonsFührer der ZerstörerKapitän zur SeeFriedrich Bontemagnetic minesThames estuaryBlancheZ11 Bernd von Arnimfishing trawlersortiedKommodoreZ4 Richard BeitzenZ8 Bruno HeinemannZ14 Friedrich IhnZ15 Erich SteinbrinckRiver Tynelight cruisersLeipzigNürnbergHMS SalmonStettinBattles of NarvikOperation Weserübung3rd Mountain DivisionOfotfjordHerjangsfjordNorwegian ArmybarracksElvegårdsmoenfactory shippicket duty2nd Destroyer FlotillaHavockHunterHotspurrearguardsZ22 Anton Schmittrun agroundCommanderErich Beycapital shipsbattleshipWarspiteZ13 Erich Koellnersmoke screenRombaksfjordenLieutenant CommandercaptainBjerkvikstar shellsEskimoForesterNorwegian Coastal AdministrationGröner, ErichRohwer, JürgenWhitley, M. J.Type 1936Type 1936A "Narvik"