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Type IX submarine

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U-505, a type IXC U-boat
Class overview
Operators
Preceded byType I
Succeeded by
SubclassesType XIV (submarine tanker)
Built1937-1945
In service1938-1945
Planned290
Building195
Completed194
Cancelled95
Preserved2 (U-505 in US and U-534 in UK)
General characteristics
Propulsion
  • 2 × MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 PS (4,300 shp; 3,200 kW)
  • 2 × SSW 1 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 PS (990 shp; 740 kW)
  • 6 × Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 9,000 horsepower (9,100 PS; 6,700 kW) (IX-D/42 Variant)[1]
Speed
  • 33.7 km/h (18.2 kn) (surfaced)
  • 14.3 km/h (7.7 kn) (submerged)
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement48 to 56 (55 to 63 in Type IXD)
Armament

The Type IX U-boat was designed by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for Europe. It was derived from the Type IA,[2][a] and appeared in various sub-types.[3]

Type IXs had six torpedo tubes; four at the bow and two at the stern. They carried six reloads internally and had five external torpedo containers (three at the stern and two at the bow) which stored ten additional torpedoes. The total of 22 torpedoes allowed U-boat commanders to follow a convoy and strike night after night. Some of the IXC boats were fitted for mine operations; as mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 60 TMB mines.[4]

Secondary armament was provided by one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun with 180 rounds. Anti-aircraft armament differed throughout the war. They had two periscopes in the tower. Types IXA and IXB had an additional periscope in the control room, which was removed in Type IXC and afterward. These long range boats were frequently equipped with Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 rotor kite towed rotary-wing aircraft.

Type IXA

[edit]
Main article: Type IXA submarine
General characteristics (IXA)[5]
Displacement
  • 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,152 t (1,134 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Draft4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Speed
  • 18.2 kn (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 10,500 nmi (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 65 nmi (120 km; 75 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged

List of Type IXA submarines

[edit]

DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built eight Type IXA U-boats.

  • U-37 - scuttled 8 May 1945
  • U-38 - scuttled 5 May 1945
  • U-39 - sunk 14 September 1939
  • U-40 - sunk on 13 October 1939 by a mine
  • U-41- sunk by depth charges on 5 February 1940
  • U-42 - sunk on 13 October 1939 by depth charges
  • U-43 - sunk on 30 July 1943
  • U-44 - sunk by mine on 13 March 1940

Type IXB

[edit]
Main article: Type IXB submarine
General characteristics (IXB)[5]
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draft4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Speed
  • 18.2 kn (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged

Type IXB was an improved model with an increased range. It was the most successful version overall with each boat averaging a total of over 100,000 GRT sunk.

Notable IXB boats included U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, U-156, which was bombed by a US aircraft while flying a Red Cross-flag and rescuing survivors of a torpedoed ship (Laconia incident), and U-107 operating off Freetown, Sierra Leone under the command of Günter Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war ever with close to 100,000 GRT sunk.

List of Type IXB submarines

[edit]

DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built 14 Type IXB U-boats. Thirteen were sunk in the course of the war.

Type IXC

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General characteristics (IXC)[5]
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draft4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Speed
  • 18.3 kn (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
An engine order telegraph dial located in the engine compartment of U-505. "MT" is Maschinen Telegraf, (Telegraph Machine), and "Bb", indicating Backbord, (Port).

The Type IXC was a further refinement of the class with storage for an additional 43 tonnes of fuel, increasing the boat's range. This series omitted the control room periscope leaving the boats with two tower scopes.

As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, though the 35 boats of U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 were not fitted for mine operations.[5]

The only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, U-166, was a Type IXC.

U-505 survives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and was completely renovated after being moved in 2004 to a purpose-built indoor berth.[6]

List of Type IXC submarines

[edit]

DeSchiMAG AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg built 54 Type IXC submarines. Only four survived the war, one of which is preserved in the US.

  • U-66 - Sunk 6 May 1944
  • U-67 - Sunk 16 July 1943
  • U-68 - Sunk 10 April 1944
  • U-125 - Sunk 6 May 1943
  • U-126 - Sunk by aircraft 3 June 1943
  • U-127 - Sunk 15 December 1941
  • U-128 - Sunk by aircraft and surface ships, 17 May 1943
  • U-129 - Taken out of service 4 July 1944
  • U-130 - Sunk 12 March 1943
  • U-131 - Scuttled 17 December 1941
  • U-153 - Sunk by ship in July 1942
  • U-154 - Sunk 3 July 1944
  • U-155 - Scuttled post war by British
  • U-156 - Sunk 8 March 1943
  • U-157 - Sunk 13 June 1942
  • U-158 - Sunk 30 June 1942
  • U-159 - Sunk 28 July 1943
  • U-160 - Sunk 14 July 1943
  • U-161 - Sunk 27 September 1943
  • U-162 - Sunk 3 September 1942
  • U-163 - Sunk 12/13 March 1943
  • U-164 - Sunk 6 January 1943
  • U-165 - Sunk 27 September 1942
  • U-166 - Sunk on 30 July 1942
  • U-171 - Sunk by mine 9 October 1942
  • U-172 - Sunk 13 December 1943
  • U-173 - Sunk 16 November 1942
  • U-174 - Sunk by aircraft 27 April 1943
  • U-175 - Sunk 17 April 1943
  • U-176 - Sunk by Cuban Navy, 15 May 1943
  • U-501 - Sunk by escorts, 10 September 1941
  • U-502 - Sunk by aircraft 6 July 1942
  • U-503 - Sunk 15 March 1942
  • U-504 - Sunk 30 July 1943
  • U-505 - Captured by US Navy, 4 June 1944. Preserved in museum
  • U-506 - Sunk by aircraft 12 July 1943
  • U-507 - Sunk by aircraft 13 January 1943
  • U-508 - Sunk by aircraft 12 November 1943
  • U-509 - Sunk by aircraft 15 July 1943
  • U-510 - Given to French Navy post war
  • U-511 - Transferred to Japan on 16 September 1943
  • U-512 - Sunk by aircraft 2 October 1942
  • U-513 - Sunk by aircraft 19 July 1943
  • U-514 - Sunk 8 July 1943
  • U-515 - Sunk, 9 April 1944
  • U-516 - Scuttled post war by British
  • U-517 - Sunk by aircraft 21 November 1942
  • U-518 - Sunk, 22 April 1944
  • U-519 - Posted missing 31 January 1943
  • U-520 - Sunk, 30 October 1942
  • U-521 - Sunk 2 June 1943
  • U-522 - Sunk 23 February 1943
  • U-523 - Sunk, 25 August 1943
  • U-524 - Sunk on 22 March 1943 by aircraft

Type IXC/40

[edit]
General characteristics (IXC/40)[5]
Displacement
  • 1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draft4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Speed
  • 18.3 kn (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged

Type IXC/40 was an improved Type IXC with slightly increased range and surfaced speed. The remains of U-534 are on display at Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead.[7]

List of Type IXC/40 submarines

[edit]

DeSchiMAG AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg, built 87 of this type.

Type IXD

[edit]
General characteristics (IXD)[8]
Displacement
  • 1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draft5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
Speed
  • 20.8 kn (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced
  • 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 23,700 nmi (43,900 km; 27,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 115 nmi (213 km; 132 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged

Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. It was faster than the IXC but at the cost of slightly reduced maneuverability. It had three pairs of Daimler Benz diesels: two pairs for cruise and one for high speed or battery recharge. There were three variants: the IXD1, IXD2 and IXD/42. The IXD1 had unreliable engines and they were later converted for use in surface transport vessels. The IXD2 comprised most of the class and had a range of 23,700 nautical miles (43,900 km; 27,300 mi). The IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5,400 hp (4,000 kW; 5,500 PS) instead of 4,400 hp (3,300 kW; 4,500 PS)).

In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from a number of IXD boats converted for transport use. In their new role they could transport 252 tonnes of cargo. The range was extended to 31,500 nautical miles (58,300 km; 36,200 mi).[1]

List of Type IXD submarines

[edit]

DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built 30 Type IXD U-boats.

Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen, but only two were commissioned. They were:

  • U-883 was launched on 28 April 1944 and commissioned 27 March 1945. Her career ended in Operation Deadlight.
  • U-884 was launched on 17 May 1944 but was badly damaged on 30 March 1945 by US bombs while still in the dockyard.
  • U-885, U-886, U-887 and U-888 were laid down but construction halted on 30 September 1943 when all IXD/42 contracts were cancelled.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Showell states that the Type IX submarine was designed as a further development of the U81.[3]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 75.
  2. ^ Williamson (2005), p. 40.
  3. ^ a b Showell (2006), p. 83.
  4. ^ Rössler (2001), p. 104.
  5. ^ a b c d e Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 68.
  6. ^ "U-505 (German Submarine)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  7. ^ "The U-Boat Story - The Story of World War 2 German Submarine U-534". u-boatstory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  8. ^ Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 114.

Bibliography

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type IX submarines.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter & Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Translated by Thomas, Keith & Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File: Detailed Service Histories of the Submarines Operated by the Kriegsmarine 1935-1945. Leicester: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
  • Showell, Jak P. Mallmann (2006). The U-boat Century: German Submarine Warfare 1906-2006. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 9781861762412.
  • Thew, Robert W. (1991). "The Type IX U-Boat". Warship International. XXVIII (1). International Naval Research Organization: 14–29. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (2001). The U-boat: The evolution and technical history of German submarines. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-36120-8.
  • Williamson, Gordon (2005). Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-boat in World War II. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-872-3.
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