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German submarine U-875

Summary

German submarine U-875 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-875
Ordered25 August 1941
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1083
Laid down11 May 1943
Launched16 February 1944
Commissioned21 April 1944
Fate
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXD2 submarine
Displacement
  • 1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,799 t (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 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 57 nmi (106 km; 66 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement66
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 19 456
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Georg Preuss[2]
  • 21 April 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

She was ordered on 25 August 1941, and was laid down on 11 May 1943 at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1083. She was launched on 16 February 1944 and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg Preuss on 21 April 1944.[3]

Design edit

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-875 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.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-875 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) Flak M42 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.[4]

Service history edit

On 9 May 1945, U-875 surrendered at Bergen, Norway. She was later transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 30 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-875 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-875 was towed out on 31 December 1945 and sunk.[3]

The wreck is located at 55°41′N 08°28′W / 55.683°N 8.467°W / 55.683; -8.467.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Busch & Röll 1997, p. 384.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Georg Preuss". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-875". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 74–75.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1997). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Der U-Boot Bau auf deutschen Werften (in German). Vol. II. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0509-6.
  • 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File, 1935-1945. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-875". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 January 2014.

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