Z-30 was one of German navy Type 1936A destroyers. The use of 150 mm guns was atypical of destroyers which tended to have guns around 120 - 127 mm in calibre. In December 1943, Scharnhost and 5 destroyers (Z-29, Z-30,Z-33,Z-34,Z-38) was ordered to seek out and destroy the Convoy JW55B.