German submarine U-40 (1938)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-40.

U-37, (an identical U-boat to U-40) at Lorient in 1940
History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-40
Ordered: 29 July 1936
Builder: DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number: 945
Laid down: 1 July 1937
Launched: 9 November 1938
Commissioned: 11 February 1939
Fate: Sunk on 13 October 1939 in the English Channel by a mine. 45 men died, three survived[1][2]
General characteristics
Class & type: Type IXA submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,153 t (1,135 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Draught: 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power:
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Range:
  • 10,500 nmi (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 65–78 nmi (120–144 km; 75–90 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 19 297
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Werner von Schmidt
  • Kptlt. Wolfgang Barten
Operations: Two
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged

German submarine U-40 was a Type IXA[3] U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II.[1]

U-40 was built in Bremen by DeSchiMAG AG Weser as yard number 945. She was launched in November 1938 and commissioned in February 1939.[1]

U-40 conducted two war patrols during her career. Both of which were part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla. During her short time in the war, she sank no ships.

U-40 was sunk on 13 October 1939 by a mine in the English Channel.[1]

Construction

U-40 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 29 July 1936 (as part of Plan Z and in violation of the Treaty of Versailles). Her kneel was laid down on 1 July 1937. U-40 was launched on 9 November 1938 and commissioned on 11 February 1939 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Werner von Schmidt.[1]

Design

As one of the eight original German Type IX submarines, later designated IXA, U-40 had a displacement of 1,032 tonnes (1,016 long tons) when at the surface and 1,153 tonnes (1,135 long tons) while submerged.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 76.50 m (251 ft), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in), a height of 9.40 m (30 ft 10 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 65–78 nautical miles (120–144 km; 75–90 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-40 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[4]

Service history

After being commissioned and deployed, U-40 was stationed in the German port city of Wilhelmshaven,[3] which to be her home for the rest of her fairly short career.[1]

Patrols

U-40 left Wilhelmshaven on 19 August 1939, before World War II began, for her first patrol. For nearly four weeks she operated off the coast of Gibraltar, before returning home on 18 September that same year.[5] U-40 would once again leave Wilhelmshaven, this time under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Barten, on 10 October 1939. During this patrol, she was to conduct joint operations off the coasts of Portugal and Spain.[6]

Fate

On 13 October 1939, U-40 was sunk by a British mine at 50°41′6″N 00°15′1″E / 50.68500°N 0.25028°E / 50.68500; 0.25028.[7] She was to operate as part of the first pack of U-boats in World War II; however, because she left port late, Barten decided to take a shortcut to the U-boat's designated meeting point, southwest of Ireland. This shortcut was through the English Channel, which was festooned with many British naval mines. Choosing to make the voyage nearly three and a half hours after high tide, the mines were not at their lowest point. The boat struck one of these devices and sank immediately to the sea floor. Nevertheless, nine crew members were able to exit through the aft escape hatch. Using escape equipment, they were able to reach the surface; one of the nine died on his journey. Once there, five more died from exposure to the harsh elements of the English Channel. Nearly ten hours after the sinking, the remaining three men were rescued and taken prisoner by HMS Boreas.[1][6][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXA boat U-40". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 Kemp 1999, p. 61.
  3. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type IXA". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-40 (First patrol)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  6. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-40 (Second patrol)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "Submarine Casualties Booklet". U.S. Naval Submarine School. 1966. Retrieved 2009-09-08.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3. 

External links

Coordinates: 50°42′N 0°15′E / 50.700°N 0.250°E / 50.700; 0.250

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