German Type IX Submarine

[Crag_r]

 

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.

 

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:

18.3 knots (33.9 km/h) surfaced

7.3 knots (13.5 km/h) submerged

 

Range:

11,400 nmi (21,100 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced

63 nmi (117 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged

 

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

 

Armament:

6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)

22 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedoes

1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun with 110 rounds

Various combinations of AA cannons: Common calibers 20mm, 30mm and 37mm

 

http://www.globeatwa...ng of U_550.jpg

Type IXA

The German Type IXA submarine was a sub-class of the German Type IX submarine built by the Kriegsmarine between 1937 and 1938. These U-boats were designed between 1935 and 1936 and were intended to be fairly large ocean-going submarines. The inspiration for the Type IXA submarine came from the German Type IA submarine, which had a similar diving depth and identical submerged horsepower.

 

Type IXB

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 ever with close to 100,000 tonnes sunk.

 

Type IXC

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.

 

 

Type IXC/40

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.

 

Type IXD

Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. It was faster than the IXC but at the cost of slightly reduced range. They 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 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 converted for transport use. In their new role they could transport 252 tonnes of cargo.

 

[Lt_Andrev]

Quote

After the war, the Navy had no further use for U-505. She had been thoroughly examined in Bermuda, and was now moored derelict at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. It was decided to use her as a target for gunnery and torpedo practice until she sank. In 1946, Gallery, now a rear admiral, told his brother Father John Gallery about this plan. Father John contacted President Lenox Lohr of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) to see if they would be interested in U-505. MSI, established by Chicago businessman Julius Rosenwald, was a center for "industrial enlightenment" and public science education, specializing in interactive exhibits. As the museum already planned to display a submarine, the acquisition of U-505 seemed ideal. In September 1954, U-505 was donated to Chicago by the U.S. government, a public subscription among Chicago residents raised $250,000 for transporting and installing the boat. On 25 September 1954, U-505 was dedicated as a permanent exhibit and a war memorial to all the sailors who lost their lives in the two Battles of the Atlantic.

Salut for Chicago Museum!

[JeeWeeJ]

Nice work crag, keep it up! :Smile_great:

[Crag_r]

JeeWeeJ, on 16 September 2012 - 09:20 AM, said:

Nice work crag, keep it up! :Smile_great:

Thanks JeeWeeJ :Smile_honoring:

I think i will do the Gato, T class, Typhoon then the Collins class. Then i will be done (for now) :Smile_hiding:

[JeeWeeJ]

Crag_r, on 16 September 2012 - 09:40 AM, said:

Thanks JeeWeeJ :Smile_honoring:

I think i will do the Gato, T class, Typhoon then the Collins class. Then i will be done (for now) :Smile_hiding:

Just don't do too many subs though...people might ask for subs ingame... :Smile_hiding:

[Crag_r]

JeeWeeJ, on 16 September 2012 - 10:31 AM, said:

Just don't do too many subs though...people might ask for subs ingame... :Smile_hiding:

Oh god, i think they are :Smile_ohmy: