Z23

German Destroyer Z23 was built for Germany's Kriegsmarine during the years of 1938 to 1939. She was larger than the preceding Type 1936 class and had a heavier armament.

German Destroyer Z23 served between the years of 1940 to 1944. 

Preceded by:  Type 1936 destroyer

Succeeded by: Type 1936B destroyer

German Destroyer Z23 began her career escorting ships between the Baltic and southern Norway between March and June 1941, such as the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruisers Admiral Hipper, Admiral Scheer. On 12–13 June Z23 was one of the escorts for the heavy cruiser Lützow as she attempted to break out into the Atlantic. Several Bristol Beaufort aircraft spotted Lützow and her escorts off the Norwegian coast and one managed to surprise them and torpedo the cruiser early on the morning of 13 June, forcing her to return to Germany for repairs. Later in France she helped to escort the battleship Scharnhorst through the Bay of Biscay. At the end of 1943 she was involved in the Battle of the Bay of Biscay. On 12 August 1944 she was sank in harbor by a single bomb blasting through her hull and detonating on the harbor floor in an ariel attack from by Avro Lancaster bombers.