Destroyer names?

[eadweard]

Some years ago, I read somewhere that the so-called Narvik-class destroyers Z 23 - Z 30 were each given tradition-names in honor of the destroyers lost in the 1940 Battles of Narvik. Some examples of these names were given in the article, but all I recall is that "Georg Thiele" was one of the names passed on to a "Narvik." Has anybody heard or read anything about this?

[hucks216]

I could be wrong but as far as I know none of the ships Z 23 to Z 30 were given names. Here is a list of them including those with and without names:

http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ ... index.html

[eadweard]

That has always been my understanding, hence my surprise upon reading that distant article and query concerning the possibility it might be true. Could such names have been given unofficially?

[Thoddy]

The names were offical.
Small ships up to destroyer size could be named after crews or officers of ships with special merits. Such as
Wilhelm Heidkamp - the guy who saved Seydlitz during the Doggerbank battle
Georg Thiele was captain of torpedoboat S 119 and died in a battle in 1914.

[eadweard]

Thanks.
I'm just going to have to search my books etc. to see if I can find what I've asked about.

[Peter K.]

In my opinion you are thinking about the fact, that the new destroyers beginning with Z 23 have to keep up the tradition of the already lost boats, f.e. Z 24 for Z 2 GEORG THIELE or Z 25 for Z 18 HANS LÜDEMANN.

[eadweard]

Interesting point and precisely what I was asking about.

[Peter K.]

Take a look into
Wolfgang HARNACK, Zerstörer unter deutscher Flagge 1934 bis 1945, ISBN 3-7822-0616-9, page 32
for a nearly complete list.

[eadweard]

Thanks for the info.