Gerard Callenburgh-class
The destroyers of this class were based upon the preceding Admiralen-class destroyers. Often compared to the British Tribal-class destroyers, they outperformed the latter in range and anti-aircraft armament. The main armament of 5 Bofors 120-mm guns in two double and a single mount was enough for contemporary standards. At the start of the war in May 1940, three had been launched. Of these, Isaac Sweers was towed to Britain and completed there with a different armament, the other two were scuttled when evacuation proved to be impossible. One (the former Gerard Callenburgh) was salvaged and completed for the Kriegsmarine as ZH-1.
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| Isaac Sweers without camouflage, presumably during trials in 1941. (Collection Jan Klootwijk) |
| Construction details | ||||
| Name | Gerard Callenburgh | Isaac Sweers | Tjerk Hiddes (I) | Philips van Almonde |
| Dockyard | Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam | Koninklijke Mij 'De Schelde', Flushing | Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam | Koninklijke Mij 'de Schelde', Flushing |
| Dockyardnumber | 208 | 212 | 207 | 213 |
| Laid down | October 12, 1938 | November 26, 1938 | October 1, 1938 | March 2, 1939 |
| Launched | October 12, 1939 | March 16, 1940 | October 12, 1939 | - |
| Commissioned | October 11, 1942 | May 29, 1941 | - | - |
| Status | Sunk by Allied destroyers near Ile de Bas, June 9, 1944 as ZH-1 History |
Sunk by German submarine U-431 off Algiers, November 13, 1942 History |
Scuttled by destruction parties in Nieuwe Waterweg, May 14, 1940. Raised June 12, 1940. Scrapped in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. | Blown up at dockyard by destruction parties, May 17, 1940. Remains were scrapped |
| Pennants | ZH-1 (WW II) | IS (design) G-83 (WW II) |
ZH-2* | - |
| * Pennant number ZH 2 was allocated for Tjerk Hiddes in the assumption she could be salvaged and commissioned. | ||||
| Specifications | |||
| Design | ZH 1 (ex-Callenburgh) | Isaac Sweers | |
| Displacement | 1628 t / 2240 t | ||
| Crew | 180 | 230 | 194 |
| Dimensions | 106,3 (oa) 105 (pp) x 10,28 x 3,5 m | ||
| Armament | 5 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 4 x 40 mm Bofors 4 x 12.7 mm Vickers MG 8 torpedotubes of 533 mm |
5 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 4 x 37 mm C/30 16 x 20 mm C/38 8 torpedotubes of 533 mm |
6 x 102 mm Mk XVI* 4 x 40 mm Bofors 4 x 20 mm Oerlikon 8 torpedotubes of 533 mm |
| Additional | 1 floatplane 24 mines (2 rails) 4 depthcharge mortars |
24 mines *** 4 depthcharge mortars |
Asdic submarine detection 4 depthcharge mortars |
| Radar | - | N/A | 2 type 289 for Bofors 1 for 4-inch guns |
| * ZH 1 was equipped with German tubes. I don't know whether or not Sweers retained her Dutch tubes or received British mounts. ** These 20 mm guns replaced two quad Vickers mounts originally mounted after completion in the UK. *** Not all sources mention these as armament in the Kriegsmarine. |
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| Propulsion details | |||
| Design | ZH.1 (ex-Callenburgh) | Isaac Sweers | |
| Boilers | 3 Yarrow 3 drum type | ||
| Machinery | 2 Parsons geared turbines, built under license by Werkspoor | ||
| Performance | 45000 SHP | 45000 SHP 4 diesels for 12400 BHP |
45000 SHP |
| Shafts | 2 | ||
| Range | 5400 nm @ 19 knots | ||
| Max speed | 36 knots | 37,5 knots* | 37,5 knots |
| * ZH 1 reportedly did 42 knots on her trials. | |||
| Photos | |
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Gerard Callenburgh in service with the German Kriegsmarine as ZH-1, date and place unknown (collection webmaster, originally Collection Drüppel) |
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Isaac Sweers without camouflage, presumably during trials in 1941. (Collection Jan Klootwijk) |
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Gun crew maintaining one of the quad Vickers .50 machineguns, date and place unknown. Note the type 285 radar on the range finder on the right (Admiralty Photograph, collection webmaster). |
| Related Links | ||||
German Armed Forces (History of ZH 1) |
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| June 1, 2016 | Added photo of Isaac Sweers Vickers .50 |
| July 25, 2014 | Added photo of Isaac Sweers |
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