German submarine U-3008

Last updated

German submarine U 3008.jpg
U-3008 off the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine on 30 August 1946
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-3008
Ordered6 November 1943
Builder DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1167
Laid down2 July 1944
Launched14 September 1944
Commissioned19 October 1944
Homeport Wilhelmshaven
FateSurrendered on 11 May 1945
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameU-3008
Acquired22 August 1945
In service24 July 1946
Out of service18 June 1948
Fate
  • Sunk in May 1954
  • Raised and hulk sold for scrap on 15 September 1955
General characteristics
Class and type Type XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621  t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged
Length76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) o/a
Beam8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric
  • Diesel engines, 4,400 PS (3,236 kW; 4,340 shp)
  • Electric motors, 4,200 PS (3,089 kW; 4,143 shp)
Speed15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range
  • 15,000  nmi (28,000  km; 17,000  mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth240–280 m (790–920 ft)
Complement5 officers, 52 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Service record (Kriegsmarine)
Part of:
Identification codes: M 46 364
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Fokko Schlömer [1]
  • 19 October 1944 – March 1945
  • Kptlt. Helmut Manseck [2]
  • March – 11 May 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 3 – 21 May 1945
Victories: None

German submarine U-3008 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served in the United States Navy for several years after World War II.

Contents

Her keel was laid down on 2 July 1944 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen, and she was commissioned on 19 October 1944 with Kapitänleutnant Fokko Schlömer in command. In March 1945 Schlömer was relieved by Kapitänleutnant Helmut Manseck who commanded the boat until Nazi Germany's surrender on 8 May.

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-3008 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in). [3] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts ; 3,900 shaft horsepower ), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). [3] U-3008 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men. [3]

Service history

Kriegsmarine

U-3008 left Wilhelmshaven for patrol on 3 May 1945, but returned to port after the surrender. On 21 June 1945 U-3008 was part of a flotilla of six U-boats escorted by HMS Hargood from Wilhelmshaven to Lishally, Northern Ireland. As U-3008 was an advanced design it was transferred to the United States in some secrecy, reaching New London, Connecticut, on 22 August. [4]

United States Navy

On 13 September, she moved to the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, where she began an extensive overhaul the following day. Work proceeded on an intermittent basis due to the lack of final and total approval of the vessel's allocation to the United States by the Allied powers concerned. However, by the spring of 1946, the naval shipyard received orders to proceed with the overhaul as expeditiously as possible and to place the submarine in service immediately upon its completion. U-3008's overhaul was completed by mid-summer, and she was placed into active U.S. Navy service on 24 July 1946 with Commander Everett H. Steinmetz in charge. [5]

U-3008 was assigned initially to Submarine Squadron 2 and operated along the New England coast out of New London and Portsmouth. That duty continued until 31 March 1947, when she departed New London bound ultimately for Key West, Florida, and duty with the Operational Development Force. En route, the U-boat stopped off at Norfolk, Virginia, for three weeks of underway operations with Task Force 67. She continued south on 19 April and arrived at Key West on 23 April. There, she reported for duty with Submarine Squadron 4 and began working with the Operational Development Force. That duty involved the development of submarine and antisubmarine tactics and lasted until October 1947 when she returned to New London. [5]

The U-boat conducted operations out of New London and Portsmouth between October 1947 and February 1948. On 28 February, she stood out of New London to return to Florida. She reached Key West on 5 March and resumed duty with the Operational Development Force. She remained so engaged until the end of the first week in June. On 7 June, she headed north once more and arrived in Portsmouth on 11 June. On 18 June 1948, U-3008 was placed out of service at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire.

Though out of service, U-3008 remained a Navy test hulk for several years. She was scuttled in a series of demolition tests in 1954. The hulk was raised and towed to the Navy drydock at Roosevelt Roads where she was offered up for sale in 1955. She was sold to Loudes Iron & Metal Company on 15 September 1955, and the purchaser took possession of her on 17 January 1956. She was subsequently scrapped. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

German submarine <i>U-2511</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-2511 was a Type XXI submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboot submarine was laid down on 7 July 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 2 September 1944, and commissioned on 29 September 1944 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee.

German submarine <i>U-2513</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-2513 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, that was operated by the United States Navy for several years after World War II.

German submarine U-3508 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboote submarine was laid down on 25 July 1944 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 22 September 1944, and commissioned on 2 November 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Detlef von Lehsten.

German submarine <i>U-1164</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1164 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-2522 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 28 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2522. She was launched on 22 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Horst-Thilo Queck on 22 November 1944.

German submarine U-3015 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 25 August 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1174. She was launched on 27 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Peter-Ottmar Grau on 17 December 1944.

German submarine U-3510 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 6 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1655. She was launched on 4 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-Werner Schwirley on 11 November 1944.

German submarine U-3002 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 23 May 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1161. She was launched on 9 July 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Helmut Manseck on 6 August 1944.

German submarine U-3516 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 28 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1661. She was launched on 4 November 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Wengel on 18 December 1944.

German submarine U-3507 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 19 July 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1652. She was launched on 16 September 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Otto Niethmann on 19 October 1944.

German submarine U-3511 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1656. She was launched on 11 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Grasse on 18 November 1944.

German submarine U-3525 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 17 October 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1670. She was launched on 23 December 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans-Ludwig Gaude on 31 January 1945.

German submarine U-3530 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. It was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 3 November 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1675. It was launched on 26 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Brauel on 22 March 1945.

German submarine U-2534 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 23 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2534. She was launched on 11 December 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Drews on 17 January 1945.

German submarine U-2539 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 27 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2539. She was launched on 6 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erich Jewinski on 21 February 1945.

German submarine U-3503 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 17 June 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1648. She was launched on 27 July 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hugo Deiring on 9 September 1944.

German submarine U-2529 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 29 September 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2529. She was launched on 13 November 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinrich Feufel on 22 February 1945.

German submarine U-3007 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 9 July 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1166. She was launched on 4 September 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Helmut Manseck on 22 October 1944.

German submarine U-3035 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 11 November 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1194. She was launched on 24 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-August Gerke on 1 March 1945.

German submarine U-3041 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 7 December 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1200. She was launched on 13 February 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Vieth on 10 March 1945.

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Fokko Schlömer". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Helmut Manseck". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 85.
  4. "1945 - U Boats".
  5. 1 2 3 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . "U-3008". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2017.

Bibliography