German submarine U-5 was a Type IIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was laid down on 11 February 1935, launched on 14 August and commissioned 31 August that year, under Oberleutnant zur See Rolf Dau.[1]
U-1, the first Type II boat
| |
History | |
---|---|
Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-5 |
Ordered | 2 February 1935 |
Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
Yard number | 240 |
Laid down | 11 February 1935 |
Launched | 14 August 1935 |
Commissioned | 31 August 1935 |
Fate | Sunk 19 March 1943, west of Pillau in a diving accident. 21 dead and 16 survivors |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type IIA coastal submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
|
Beam |
|
Height | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
Draught | 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range |
|
Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
Complement | 3 officers, 22 men |
Armament |
|
Service record | |
Part of: |
|
Identification codes: | M 27 527 |
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: | No ships sunk or damaged |
U-5 served mostly as a training boat from 1935 to 1940, but did see two wartime patrols in 1940. She was transferred to the 21st U-boat Flotilla on 1 July 1940.
U-5 was sunk on 19 March 1943 in a diving accident west of Pillau[2] (now Baltiysk in Russia); 16 of the 37-man crew survived.[3]
German Type II submarines were based on the Finnish submarine Vesikko. U-5 had a displacement of 254 tonnes (250 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254 t), however.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 40.90 m (134 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 27.80 m (91 ft 2 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and a draught of 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 360 metric horsepower (260 kW; 360 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-5 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.[4]
54°40′N 19°45′E / 54.667°N 19.750°E