German Type IX submarine
 U-505, a type IXC U-boat |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |  Kriegsmarine Imperial Japanese Navy (U-511 and U-862) Soviet Navy (post war; U-1231 as B-26) |
| Preceded by: | Type VII submarine |
| Succeeded by: | Type X submarine |
| Built: | 1937–1944 |
| In commission: | 1938–1945 |
| Completed: | 283 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,300 kW) 2 × SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 hp (740 kW) |
| Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement: | 48 to 56 (55 to 63 in Type IXD) |
| Armament: | 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedoes (24 in Type IXD) 1 × Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun with 110 rounds Various combinations of AA cannons: Common calibers 20mm, 30mm and 37mm |
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. 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. The extended range came at the cost of longer dive times and decreased maneuverability, which is why the smaller Type VII was produced in greater numbers and used for the bulk of operations. 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. 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.
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Type IXA
| General characteristics (IXA) | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced 1,152 t (1,134 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.6 m (251 ft 4 in) overall 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) overall 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Speed: | 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) surfaced 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged |
List of Type IXA submarines
Eight Type IXA U-boats were built by AG Weser of Bremen.
- U-37
- U-38
- U-39
- U-40
- U-41
- U-42
- U-43
- U-44
Type IXB
| General characteristics (IXB) | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.5 m (251 ft 0 in) overall 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) overall 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Speed: | 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 22,200 nmi (41,100 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 118 nmi (219 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) 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 tonnes sunk.
Famous IXB boats included U-123 under the command of Reinhard Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, and U-107 operating off Freetown, Sierra Leone under the command of Günther Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war over with close to 100,000 tonnes sunk.
List of Type IXB submarines
Fourteen Type IXB U-boats were built by AG Weser of Bremen.
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Type IXC
| General characteristics (IXC) | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.8 m (252 ft 0 in) overall 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) overall 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Speed: | 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 24,880 nmi (46,080 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 117 nmi (217 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged |
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 U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 (35 boats), were not fitted for mine operations.
One IXC carries the distinction of being the only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, U-166.
U-505 survives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and as of 2005 has been completely renovated[1].
List of Type IXC submarines
There were 54 Type IXC submarines were built by AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.
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Type IXC/40
| General characteristics (IXC/40) | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.8 m (252 ft 0 in) overall 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in) overall 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Speed: | 19 knots (35 km/h) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 25,620 nmi (47,450 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 117 nmi (217 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) 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.[2]
List of Type IXC/40 submarines
Eighty-seven of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.
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Type IXD
| General characteristics (IXD) | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 87.6 m (287 ft 5 in) overall 68.5 m (224 ft 9 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) overall 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in) |
| Speed: | 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h) surfaced 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 12,750 nmi (23,610 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 213 nmi (394 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged |
Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. They also had two pairs of diesels: one pair for cruise and one pair for high speed or battery recharge. There were three variants: the IXD1, IXD2 and IXD/42. The IXD1 had unreliable engines and they were converted to transports. The IXD2 comprised most of the class. The IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5,400 ehp instead of 4,400).
In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from a number of IXD boats and they converted for transport use. In their new role they could transport 252 tonnes of freight.
List of Type IXD submarines
Thirty Type IXD U-boats were built by AG Weser of Bremen.
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Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built AG Weser of Bremen, but only two were commissioned. They were:
- 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.
See also
Media related to Type IX submarines at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ↑ "U-505 (German Submarine)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2065&ResourceType=Structure. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ↑ "The U-Boat Story - The Story of World War 2 German Submarine U-534". u-boatstory.co.uk. http://www.u-boatstory.co.uk/. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
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