Type IX U-boat
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The Type IX U-boat was designed by Germany in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. It was derived from the Type IA, and appeared in various sub-types.
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. As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, but many of the IXC boats were not fitted for mine operations.
Secondary armament was provided by one large Utof 105/45 gun with about 110 rounds. Antiaircraft 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 deleted in Type IXC and afterward.
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Type IXA
Eight Type IXA U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.
U-37 - U-38 - U-39 - U-40 - U-41 - U-42 - U-43 - U-44
General characteristics
- Displacement: surfaced 1032 t, submerged 1152 t, total 1408 t
- Length: overall 76.6 m, pressure hull 58.7 m
- Beam: overall 6.5 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
- Draft: 4.7 m
- Height: 9.4 m
- Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
- Speed: surfaced 18.2 knot (34 km/h), submerged 7.7 knot (14 km/h)
- Range: surfaced 16,800 km (10,500 mile) at 10 knots, submerged 125 km (78 miles) at 4 knots
- Torpedoes: 22 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
- Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 110 rounds
- Crew: 48-56 men
- Max depth: 230m (750 feet)
Type IXB
Type IXB was an improved with an increased range. It was the most successful overall with each boat averaging a total of over 100,000 t sunk.
Famous IXB boats included U-123 under the command of Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, and U-107 out of Freetown, Africa under the command of Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war over with close to 100,000 t sunk.
14 Type IXB U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.
U-64 - U-65 - U-103 - U-104 - U-105 - U-106 - U-107 - U-108 - U-109 - U-110 - U-111 - U-122 - U-123 - U-124
General characteristics
- Displacement: surfaced 1051 t, submerged 1178 t, total 1430 t
- Length: overall 76.5 m, pressure hull 58.7 m
- Beam: overall 6.8 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
- Draft: 4.7 m
- Height: 9.6 m
- Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
- Speed: surfaced 18.2 knots, submerged 7.3 knots
- Range: surfaced 19,200 km (12,000 miles) at 10 knots, submerged 100 km (64 miles) at 4 knots
- Torpedoes: 22 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
- Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 110 rounds
- Crew: 48-56 men
- Max depth: 230m (750 feet)
Type IXC
Type IXC was a further refinement with storage for additional 43 t of fuel, giving an increased range. These 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 U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 (35 boats), were not fitted for mine operations.
One carries the distinction of being the only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, U-166.
The U-505 is still in existence, and is located at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, although as of 2004 it is being renovated.
54 of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.
U-66 - U-67 - U-68 - U-125 - U-126 - U-127 - U-128 - U-129 - U-130 - U-131 - U-153 - U-154 - U-155 - U-156 - U-157 - U-158 - U-159 - U-160 - U-161 - U-162 - U-163 - U-164 - U-165 - U-166 - U-171 - U-172 - U-173 - U-174 - U-175 - U-176 - U-501 - U-502 - U-503 - U-504 - U-505 - U-506 - U-507 - U-508 - U-509 - U-510 - U-511 - U-512 - U-513 - U-514 - U-515 - U-516 - U-517 - U-518 - U-519 - U-520 - U-521 - U-522 - U-523 - U-524
General characteristics
- Displacement: surfaced 1120 t, submerged 1232 t, total 1540 t
- Length: overall 76.8 m, pressure hull 58.7 m
- Beam: overall 6.8 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
- Draft: 4.7 m
- Height: 9.4 m
- Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
- Speed: surfaced 18.3 knots, submerged 7.3 knots
- Range: surfaced 21,500 km (13,450 miles) at 10 knots, submerged 100 km (63 miles) at 4 knots
- Torpedoes: 22 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
- Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 110 rounds
- Crew: 48-56 men
- Max depth: 230m (750 feet)
Type IXC/40
Type IXC/40 was a slight modification of Type IXC with a slightly increased range and somewhat higher surface speed.
87 of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.
U-167 - U-168 - U-169 - U-170 - U-183 - U-184 - U-185 - U-186 - U-187 - U-188 - U-189 - U-190 - U-191 - U-192 - U-193 - U-194 - U-525 - U-526 - U-527 - U-528 - U-529 - U-530 - U-531 - U-532 - U-533 - U-534 - U-535 - U-536 - U-537 - U-538 - U-539 - U-540 - U-541 - U-542 - U-543 - U-544 - U-545 - U-546 - U-547 - U-548 - U-549 - U-550 - U-801 - U-802 - U-803 - U-804 - U-805 - U-806 - U-841 - U-842 - U-843 - U-844 - U-845 - U-846 - U-853 - U-854 - U-855 - U-856 - U-857 - U-858 - U-865 - U-866 - U-867 - U-868 - U-869 - U-870 - U-877 - U-878 - U-879 - U-880 - U-881 - U-889 - U-1221 - U-1222 - U-1223 - U-1224 - U-1225 - U-1226 - U-1227 - U-1228 - U-1229 - U-1230 - U-1231 - U-1232 - U-1233 - U-1234 - U-1235
General characteristics
- Displacement: surfaced 1120 t, submerged 1232 t, total 1545 t
- Length: overall 76.8 m, pressure hull 58.7 m
- Beam: overall 6.9 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
- Draft: 4.7 m
- Height: 9.6 m
- Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
- Speed: surfaced 19 knots, submerged 7.3 knots
- Range: surfaced 22,150 km (13,850 miles) at 10 knots, submerged 100 km (63 miles) at 4 knots
- Torpedoes: 22 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
- Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 110 rounds
- Crew: 48-56 men
- Max depth: 230m (750 feet)
Type IXD
Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. A variant of the Type IXD, known as the IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5400 ehp instead of 4400).
In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from the IXD boats and they converted for transport use. In their new role the could transport 252 t of freight.
30 Type IXD U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen. U-177 - U-178 - U-179 - U-180 - U-181 - U-182 - U-195 - U-196 - U-197 - U-198 - U-199 - U-200 - U-847 - U-848 - U-849 - U-850 - U-851 - U-852 - U-859 - U-860 - U-861 - U-862 - U-863 - U-864 - U-871 - U-872 - U-873 - U-874 - U-875 - U-876
Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built AG Weser of Bremen, but only one was commissioned.
U-883 was launched on April 28, 1944 and commissioned March 27, 1945. Her career ended in Operation Deadlight.
U-884 was launched on May 17, 1944 but was badly damaged on March 30, 1945 by US bombs while still in dockyard hands. U-885, U-886 U-887, and U-888 were laid down but construction halted on September 30, 1943 when all IXD/42 contracts were cancelled.
General characteristics
- Displacement: surfaced 1610 t, submerged 1799 t, total 2150 t
- Length: overall 87.6 m, pressure hull 68.5 m
- Beam: overall 7.5 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
- Draft: 5.4 m
- Height: 10.2 m
- Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
- Speed: surfaced 20.8 knots, submerged 6.9 knots
- Range: surfaced 20,400 km (12,750 miles) at 10 knots, submerged 185 km (115 miles) at 4 knots
- Torpedoes: 24 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
- Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 150 rounds
- Crew: 55-63 men
- Max depth: 230m (750 feet)nl:Type IX U-boot