Type IID U-boat

Crew 25 men
Length 44 m
Displacement (surfaced) 364 tons
Displacement (submerged) 303 tons
Maximum speed (surfaced) 12 knots
Maximum speed (submerged)
 7 knots
Range (surfaced)
 5650 nm (8 kts )
Range (submerged)
 56 nm (4 kts )
Depth 100 m
Torpedo tubes 3 (bow of the submarine)
Number of torpedoes 5
Guns 20 mm AA gun

 

History

U-Boats of the type II, nicknamed - " canoes " -, were the first submarines constructed in Germany, after the denial of the Versailles treaty by the Germans in 1935. The first models (Type IIA) had very limited range because of their low gasoline storage capacity. Models that followed were therefore enlarged to increase their range.

Submarines could only transport food supply for about 3 or 4 weeks atv sea. In fact, they often returned to home port after having exhausted their torpedos.

Type II submarines were quite small but crews appreciated them for their maneuverability, their fast diving speed, and their solidity.

To complete the pages about the U-boat bases, here is a quick summary on the various U-boat types built by the Kriegsmarine during the World War II. The U-boat types presented are types II, VII, IX as well as type XXI.

Type IX U-boat surfaced.

Contents

 

Movie : U-boats construction

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Movie

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Technical information for type VIIC

Crew 44 mens
Length 66 m
Displacement (surfaced)
 769 tons
Displacement (submerged)
 865 tonnes
Max. speed (surfaced)
 17 knots
Max. speed (submerged)
 8 knots
Range (surfaced)
 8500 nm
Range (submerged)
 80 nm
Max. tested depth
 150 m
Torpedo tubes
 5 (bow : 4, stern : 1)
Torpedoes 14
Guns 88 mm gun (1) - 20mm AA gun (from 1 to 4)

 

History

The first U-boats of the type VII were commissionned in June 1936, and variants of this model were used during from this date to 1945. No country has ever built more submarines of a single type than Germany did for the type VII U-boats. The performances of the submarine were improved with tye VIIB type. Range and maneuverability of the submarine were improved, and arrangements of torpedoes were more efficient Some minor changes made the typical VIIC the most powerful submarine of the war, if we except the XXI type. For example, the type VIIC/41 submarines dived deeper than any other operational submarine of the second world war.

Others variants of the type VII were used to lay mines (VIID) or as "milk cows" (VIIF) to provide at sea gasoline and torpedoes to other u-boats.

 

Photos

Two type VII u-boats back to home port.

 

A type VIIc u-boat(U-953) and a type IX-d2 (U-861).

Characteristics

Crew 57 mens
Length 76,7 m
Max speed (surfaced)
 15,6 noeuds
Max speed (submerged)
 16,8 noeuds
Range (surfaces)
 15500 miles nautiques
Range (submerged)
 56 miles nautiques
Max tested depth
 500 m
Tubes 6
Torpedoes 24
Guns Four 20 mm guns
Production 119

 

History

Before the beginning of the war, professor Walter and "Germania Werft" shipyard worked on th project of submarine working with oxygenated water in order to built a submarine being able to function without the oxygen of the air. The uboat would not have to surface regularly to recharge cells.

Several projects of this type will end to the construction of the experimental of type XVII and XVIII. Nevertheless, those types were not massively produced because of three huge weaknesses:

* For the price of one type XVIII, it was possible to build two type VIIC.

* The fuel consumption was too high.

* The quantity of oxygenated water for these U-boats would necessitate the construction of new facility to produce the fuel.

 

The typical XVIII is therefore transformed and equipped withdiesel engines. It becomes the type XXI, the most advanced submarineof the world war two.It is able ton attack its preys without having to approach the surface. In addition, the hydraulic loading system of torpedoes allows the loading of the six tubes within 12 minutes while this operation on a typical VIIC asked 10 to 20 minutes for an alone tube.

The first type XXI submarine was launched on May 12, 1944 and commissionned in June 27.

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