The German Z Class Destroyer, which served in actions off Narvik, Norway, and as escort to the Battle Cruiser Scharnhorst prior to her final sortie, is available as a 1/700 Waterline Series model. This set includes parts to build two destroyers and allows depiction of either an early version or a late-war Project Barbara configuration.
The Z-class destroyer was constructed during Germany's rearmament prior to WWII. The
comparatively large hull and high temperature/high pressure boilers combined with efficient German workmanship for an imposing and effective ship. A large number of destroyers, designated Z1 to Z43, were deployed between 1935 and 1944. The early types (Z1-22) were relatively lightly armed with five 12.7cm guns, while the 1936A Type (Z23-30) and 1936A
Mobilization Types (Z31-34, Z37-39) featured heavier 15-cm guns. As air power began to play a dominant role in naval warfare, plans were drawn up in 1944 under the code name Barbara to add air defenses to the Z-class destroyers. This was to comprise fourteen 37mm (6 coaxial, 2 single) and ten 20mm (3 coaxial, 1 quad) cannons, as well as six 8.6cm RAG rocket launchers, with some variations between individual ships.
- Kit includes two 1/700 scale assembly models of the German Z Class destroyer.
- This is a renewal of an existing item (31905), which includes new parts allowing depiction of
the late-version Project Barbara configuration of Z37-Z39 destroyers.
- Kit allow the construction of either early or late versions of destroyers.
- Package and instruction manual have been redesigned.
- Cut-out paper flag sheet is included to reproduce ship flags.