The Z51 was a destroyer in the German Navy and the only ship of the Type 1942 class to be built. In the late 1920s, the Reichsmarine (the future Kriegsmarine) planned to transition from old destroyer designs to a new type with diesel engines instead of steam engines. Diesel engines were considered more reliable and easier to produce under conditions of scarce resources. From 1928 to 1935, MAN Augsburg developed a new diesel engine for the ship and tested it on the cruiser Leipzig and the training ship Bremse. However, the engine had some minor problems, causing the Kriegsmarine to lose interest until 1938 when plans emerged to build destroyers and other warships with the engines. However, with the outbreak of war, all work ceased again, except for a new type of destroyer that would use six 24-cylinder MAN 12Z32/34 engines. Six such engines were ordered in 1943, but only four were ready by the end of the war. Due to lack of fuel their testing ended prematurely in February 1945.

The Z51 was laid down in Bremen in 1943 and launched on October 2, 1944. It was launched in an incomplete state, most likely to make room for the construction of new submarines. The destroyer was abandoned and sank during an air raid on March 21, 1945. It was hit by two bombs; one hit the bulkhead between compartments X1 and X11, breaking off the bow. The other bomb hit the stern, damaging the rear section behind the fourth gun and causing the stern to list. As a result, the hull cracked and sank. In early 1948, a contract was issued for the dismantlement of the wreckage, which was completed in February 1949. One of the Z51's engines is on display at the technology museum in Sinsheim.

The Z51 was introduced in Update 2.49 "Tusk Force", in its project layout. Its characteristics are very similar to those of the Z43 Type 1936B destroyer but it lost one main gun and has slightly weaker anti-aircraft armament. However, it still boasts excellent shell ballistics, a high rate of fire, and a radar.