German Second World War Destroyers

The handsome and powerful Type 34 and 34A destroyers (Zerstörer 1934 and Zerstörer 1934A) were designed in the early 1930s to match the large destroyers then entering service with the French and Polish navies. The Royal Navy’s Tribal class destroyers ordered in 1936 were in turn intended to counter the Types 34 and 34A. A captured Type 36A Zerstörer off Boston, September 1945. Although seemingly impressive, significant problems were encountered as the ships came into service. Image: Wikimedia Commons. Although the German vessels seemed impressive, significant problems were encountered as they came into service. Their theoretically efficient high-pressure steam machinery, which had