German submarine U-182

Summary

German submarine U-182 was a Type IX D 2 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which served in World War II. Her keel was laid down on 7 April 1941 at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1022; she was launched on 3 March 1942 and commissioned on 30 June of the same year.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-182
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1022
Laid down7 April 1941
Launched3 March 1942
Commissioned30 June 1942
FateSunk on 16 May 1943 by a US warship north-west of Madeira
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXD2 submarine
Displacement
  • 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,799 tonnes (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)
Draught5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced
  • 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • submerged 115 nmi (213 km; 132 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph)
Test depthCalculated crush depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 dinghies
Complement4-7 officer, 51-57 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 05 593
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Asmus Nicolai Clausen
  • 30 June 1942 - 16 May 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 9 December 1942 - 16 May 1943
Victories: 5 merchant ships sunk
(30,071 GRT)

She carried out a single war patrol, sinking five merchant vessels and spending 159 days at sea.

U-182 was probably sunk near Madeira on 16 May 1943 by USS MacKenzie. 61 crew members and three prisoners of war died. The boat had been unsuccessfully attacked by a USAAF B-24 Liberator the previous day.

Design edit

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-182 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-182 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[2]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
15 January 1943 Ocean Courage   United Kingdom 7,173 Sunk
17 February 1943 Llanashe   United Kingdom 4,836 Sunk
10 March 1943 Richard D. Spaight   United States 7,177 Sunk
5 April 1943 Aloe   United Kingdom 5,047 Sunk
1 May 1943 Adelfotis   Greece 5,838 Sunk

References edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXD1 boat U-182". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, pp. 74–75.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-182". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 October 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXD boat U-182". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 182". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2014.

33°55′N 20°35′W / 33.917°N 20.583°W / 33.917; -20.583