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Z-39 (DD-939)

CLASS - Zerstörer 1936A (Mod) As Built.
Displacement 3700 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 416' 8" (oa) x 39' 4" x 15' 2" (Max)
Armament 5 × 150 mm, 4 (later 14) × 37mm, 12 (later 18) × 20 mm,
8 × 21 in tt, 60 mines, 4 × depth charge launchers.
Machinery 2 × Wagner geared turbines, 70,000 shp, 2 shafts.
Speed, 37.5 Knots, Range 2240 NM @ 19 Knots, Crew 330.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940.
Launched August 5 1941.
Commissioned August 21 1943.
Acquired by United States in 1945.
Stricken Nov 10 1947.
Transferred to France as FNS Leopard (Q-128) in 1948 as spares, became a floating pier.
Fate Scrapped in L'Orient, February 1964.

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Z-39 64kUndated, location unknown.Ron Reeves
Z-39 81kKMS Z 39 (later USS DD-939) fitting out at GermaniaWerft, Kiel in August 1943. Note the bomb damage inflicted to the covered ways in the background. Photo Archiv Groner. Photo from "Destroyers! German Destroyers in World War II", by M.J. Whitley.Robert Hurst
Z-39 52kKMS Z-39 as seen from another German destroyer underway probably in the eastern Baltic Sea area circa 1944-45. Photo courtesy David Walker.Robert Hurst
Z-39 54kView of Z-39 under US flag in 1945. When war broke out in 1939, new destroyer classes were cancelled and 12 additional 1936A vessels were ordered with slight modifications to speed construction and save materials. The 150 mm twin turrets were taken from planned, but never built, "O" class battlecruisers. In war service, the engines were more reliable than in earlier ships but at the end of the war, heavy corrosion was discovered. Seven of this sub-class were built: one was sunk, another two were severely damaged and not repaired. The remaining four were war booty allocated to the Allies. Photo from Zerstörer im Zweiten Weltkrieg .-
Z-39 123kUSS DD-939 undergoing inspection in Dry Dock 4 of the South Boston Annex of the Boston Navy Yard on 11 August 1945. Naval History & Heritage Command photo #NH-75382.Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
Z-39 160kUSS Z-39 (DD-939)/ Ex-German Z-39) showing after 37mm Bofors-type A.A. gun platform, near the after stack. Note these 37mm guns are of two different types. Taken at Boston Navy Yard, August 11, 1945. Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 75405.Mike Green
Z-39 269kUSS Z-39 (DD-939)/Ex-German Z-39) showing the after 150mm guns, one of which is broken. Note these mountings are low-angle only. Taken at Boston Navy Yard, August 11, 1945. Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 75408.Mike Green
Z-39 180kUSS DD-939 undergoing inspection in Dry Dock 4 of the South Boston Annex of the Boston Navy Yard on 13 August 1945. Naval History & Heritage Command photo #NH-75378.Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard
Z-39 58k"It's official" says Commander R. A. Dawes, Jr. USN, of Annapolis, MD, to his Executive Officer, Lieutenant George Turnquist, USN, of Davenport, Iowa and Dennis' grandfather, as LTJG J. L. Kenner, USN, of Louisville, KY, and Ensign J. R. Dolan, USNR, of La Grange, IL, look on. Photograph showing the German destroyer undergoing inspection in Dry Dock 4 at the South Boston Annex of the Boston Navy Yard on August 13 1945. From the Edward J. Steichen Photography Collection.Dennis Turnquist
Z-39 227kUSS Z-39 (DD-939/ Ex-German Z-39) showing after 37mm Bofors-type A.A. gun platform. Taken at Boston Navy Yard, August 13, 1945. Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall, Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 75404.Mike Green
Z-39 123kAugust 22 1945, location unknown.Wolfgang Hechler
Z-39 186kStarboard quarter view of USS Z-39 (DD-939) off Boston, Massachusetts, 12 September 1945. She was formerly the German Destroyer Z-39. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No.19-N-90596.Mike Green
Z-39 146kStern view of USS Z-39 (DD-939) off Boston, Massachusetts, 12 September 1945. She was formerly the German Destroyer Z-39. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No. 19-N-90598.Mike Green
Z-39 170kStarboard broadside view of USS Z-39 (DD-939) off Boston, Massachusetts, 12 September 1945. She was formerly the German Destroyer Z-39. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No.19-N-90594.Mike Green
Z-39 196kStarboard bow view of USS Z-39 (DD-939) off Boston, Massachusetts, 12 September 1945. She was formerly the German Destroyer Z-39. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No.19-N-90595.Mike Green

Commanding Officers from Germany, United Kingdom and the United States
Thanks to Robert Hurst

K.Kpt. Konrad Loerke, KM    Aug 21 1942 - May 1945
LCDR Forsberg, RN    Jul 6 1945 - Jul 11 1945
CDR Robert Alden Dawes Jr., USN    Jul 17 1945 - Aug 31 1945
CDR Stuart Trowbridge Hotchkiss, USNR    Aug 31 1945 - Jul 17 1945

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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