Z-44

13.3

Z-44

Destroyer | Germany | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points19,400

Main Battery

128 mm/45 SK C/34 on an MPLC/34 mount5 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire14.29 shots/min.

Reload Time4.2 sec.

Rotation Speed8 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time22.5 sec.

Firing Range11.11 km.

Maximum Dispersion98 m.

HE Shell128 mm Spr.Gr.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,500

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity830 m./s.

HE Shell Weight28 kg.

AP Shell128 mm P.Spr.Gr.

Maximum AP Shell Damage3,000

Initial AP Shell Velocity830 m./s.

AP Shell Weight28 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

533 mm Fünfling2 х 5 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.71 shots/min.

Reload Time85 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoG7a T1 Ausf. C

Maximum Damage13,700

Torpedo Speed64 knot

Torpedo Range12 km.

AA Defense

30 mm/45 Flak 103/38 on a quadruple mount7 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second100.1

. . . Firing Range3 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed36.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius670 m.

Rudder Shift Time4.4 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range7.26 km.

Air Detectability Range3.5 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.3

Z-44

Destroyer | Germany | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points19,400

Main Battery

128 mm/45 SK C/34 on an MPLC/34 mount5 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire14.29 shots/min.

Reload Time4.2 sec.

Rotation Speed8 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time22.5 sec.

Firing Range11.11 km.

Maximum Dispersion98 m.

HE Shell128 mm Spr.Gr.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,500

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity830 m./s.

HE Shell Weight28 kg.

AP Shell128 mm P.Spr.Gr.

Maximum AP Shell Damage3,000

Initial AP Shell Velocity830 m./s.

AP Shell Weight28 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

533 mm Fünfling2 х 5 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.71 shots/min.

Reload Time85 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoG7a T1 Ausf. C

Maximum Damage13,700

Torpedo Speed64 knot

Torpedo Range12 km.

AA Defense

30 mm/45 Flak 103/38 on a quadruple mount7 х 4 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second100.1

. . . Firing Range3 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed36.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius670 m.

Rudder Shift Time4.4 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range7.26 km.

Air Detectability Range3.5 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

IX

Special

Z-44 — German special premium Tier IX destroyer.

A Type 1936B destroyer Z-44 was laid down in 1942. Construction progressed slowly since the priority at that time was building and repairing submarines—Z-44 was launched only in January 1944. In the summer of the same year, construction of the Type 1936B ships was suspended for three months, but as early as July 29, Z-44 was sunk near the outfitting quay as a result of a raid by British bombers.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
128 mm/45 SK C/34 on an MPLC/34 mount	14.3	22.5	98	1,500	6	3,000		0	0

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Z-44	19,400	8	20	5		7	2			0	0

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	Torpedo Tubes Reload Time (sec)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Damage (HP)	Torpedo Speed (knot)	Torpedo Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
G7a T1 Ausf. C	0.7	85	7.2	13,700	64	12		0	0

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
FKS Typ 9 Mod. 1		0		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 70,000 hp	36.5		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Pros:

• Strong main battery AP shells, raw damage is high
• Excellent HE shell penetration of 32mm
• The only German destroyer armed with quintuple torpedo launchers
• Best torpedo range among German destroyers at 12km
• Excellent torpedo reload speed, as low as 65 seconds with all relevant upgrades
• Large hitpoint pool
• Strong short-range AA defenses with high DPS and accuracy

Cons:

• Poor main battery HE damage output and fire chance
• Poor main battery firing angles, must show a near-full broadside to unmask all guns
• Poor main battery traverse speed
• Individually, torpedoes have low damage and flood chance
• Lacks mid- and long-range AA defenses
• Large turn radius and fairly slow rudder shift
• Worst Smoke Generator  performance in tier/class, tied with Z-46

  
  

  LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Z-44 from the NA forums

Research

As a premium ship, Z-44 doesn't have any upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Z-44 are as follows:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
• Slot 2: Engine Room Protection
• Slot 3: Torpedo Tubes Modification 1
• Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1
• Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 
• Slot 6: Torpedo Tubes Modification 2

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack				Defense
1	Grease the Gears +15% main battery traverse speed. ★	Liquidator +30% chance (multiplicative) of causing flooding. ★★★	Consumables Specialist −7.5% cooldown time of all Consumables except:  Damage Control Party ,  Repair Party .	Gun Feeder -40% time to switch shell type.	Incoming Fire Alert Receive a warning about a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5 km.	Preventive Maintenance −30% chance of main armament, engines, steering becoming incapacitated +15% to HP of secondary and AA guns.
2	Demolition Expert +1% chance of main and secondary HE shells causing a fire. +15% to the damage-inflicting area of HE shells fired at submarines.	Swift Fish +5% torpedo speed. ★★★	Consumables Enhancements +10% action time of: Hydroacoustic Search , Surveillance Radar , Smoke Generator , & Engine Boost .	Extra-Heavy Ammunition +7.5% main battery AP shell damage. +10% damage from depth charges.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies aiming at you with main battery. ★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver - slowly - while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated. ★★★
3	Main Battery & AA Specialist -5% main battery reload time. +10% continuous AA damage. ★	Fill the Tubes -10% torpedo tubes reload time. ★★★	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% reload time of all armaments per 1% HP lost +0.2% AA continuous damage per 1% HP lost. ★★	Inertial Fuse for HE Shells +25% armor penetration of HE shells Base fire chance reduced by half.	Superintendent +1 charge to all consumables. ★★	Survivability Expert +350 HP per ship tier. ★★★
4	Main Battery & AA Expert +20% main battery range. +15% flak damage.	Swift in Silence So long as the ship remains undetected: +8% ship speed +5% main battery reload time. ★	Radio Location Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.. ★	Fearless Brawler +1 flak burst per salvo. -10% main battery reload when ship is spotted.	Concealment Expert -10% detectability range of the ship. ★★★	Dazzle For 15 seconds after you are detected: * +20% dispersion of enemy shells fired at you. * +8% ship speed. ★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Signals

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration.	India Yankee -20% to fire duration.	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy.	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding.	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time.	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts.	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed.	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables.	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used.
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.

Gallery

Historical Info

Z-44, as designed in 1942

Construction

Builder: Deschimag, Bremen,
   Germany

Laid down: 1 August 1942

Launched: 20 January 1944

Commissioned: -never completed-

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Specifications

2,519 tons displacement, standard

127.0m length (overall)

12.0m beam

3.54m draft (mean)

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Machinery

6 boilers, 2 turbines

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Performance

36.5 knots at 70,000 shaft horsepower

2,950nm range at 19 knots

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Armament

Main

Five (5x1) 203mm rifles

Anti-Aircraft

Four (2x2) 37mm guns

Fourteen to Sixteen (3x4 + 2/4x1) 20mm guns

Torpedoes

Eight (2x4) 533mm torpedo tubes

History

Design

Following the troubles highlighted by the 1936A type destroyers, a few modifications were made to that design to allow for a more effective destroyer, thus creating the 1936B type design. For the most part these ships repeated the design of the 1936 A(Mob).

The key difference between these two classes was the return to a 128mm armament, due to the handling issues of the 150mm guns as well as the heavy twin turret causing issues with seakeeping. So like the layout on the 1936 type, five single mounted 128mm guns were placed on the centerline of the ship in two superfiring pairs and one gun in front of the aft deck house. Another change was the addition of a platform at the sides of the forward superstructure to allow for an increased AA armament. Thus the designed AA fit was two 37mm C/30 twins, one on each side of the second funnel, three 20mm C/38 Flakvierling mounts of which one was on the aft deck house and then one each on the new platforms as well as two to four single mounted 20mm C/38 guns. The torpedo armament repeated the preceeding class with two quadruple launchers.

The machinery was a near repeat of the preceeding 1936 A type, with six boilers and two sets of turbines generating 70,000shp on two shafts for a speed of 36 to 36.5kn. A near identical fuel load of 825-835 tons would permit a cruising range of 2,600 to 2,950nm at 19kn speed.

Service

Laid down by the Deschimag dockyard in 1942 and launched one and a half years later, Z-44 became a target for the ever intensifying air raids by British and American forces. While leading to a delay in her fitting out, it would also cause her to be ultimately lost on July 29th 1944 when aircraft sank her shortly before her completion. Not having the resources or the time to raise and repair her, her remains would serve as spare parts for the destroyer Z-31.

Historical inaccuracies

• Z-44 carries an M42 gun director, a director made to direct the fire of dual purpose guns. Yet Z-44 has no dual purpose weaponry, making this gun director obsolete
• Z-44's AA defense consists solely of 30mm guns. The German military however called for a mixed anti-air in which a short range AA defense would be combined with a medium range AA defense. This meant that there'd be either the combination of 20mm and 37mm guns, or later in the war plans emerged for the combination of 30mm guns and 55mm guns. But not 30mm guns by themselves.
• The 1936B type was planned to carry quadruple torpedoes like the preceeding classes, not quintuple launchers

Historical Gallery

Video

References

Wargaming

• Armada: Z-44. 3 Dec 2020.
  

Ships of Germany

Destroyers