German submarine UD-4

History
Netherlands
Name	O 26
Ordered	24 June 1938
Builder	Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij , Rotterdam
Yard number	RDM-209 [1]
Laid down	20 April 1939
Nazi Germany
Name	UD-4
Launched	23 November 1940
Acquired	14 May 1940
Commissioned	28 January 1941
Decommissioned	19 March 1945
Fate	Scuttled, 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class & type	O 21-class submarine
Displacement	987 long tons (1,003  t) (surfaced) 1,488 long tons (1,512 t) (submerged)
Length	255 ft (77.7 m)
Beam	21 ft 6 in (6.6 m)
Draught	13 ft (4.0 m)}
Propulsion	2 × 2,500  bhp (1,864  kW) diesel engines 2 × 500 bhp (373 kW) electric motors
Speed	19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) (surfaced) 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) (submerged)
Range	10,000  nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) (surfaced) 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) (submerged)
Test depth	330 ft (100 m)
Complement	60
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in (533 mm) stern torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in (533 mm) external traversing torpedo tubes 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA guns

UD-4 was an O 21-class submarine built for the Royal Netherlands Navy during the 1930s for European service. The boat was captured incomplete during the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940 during World War II and was later commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as UD-4. The submarine served as a training boat during the war. She was decommissioned in early 1945 and scuttled in May 1945.

Design and description

The O 21-class submarines were slightly smaller versions of the preceding O 19 class since they lacked that class's minelaying capability. The boats had a length of 255 feet (77.7 m) overall, a beam of 21 feet 6 inches (6.6 m) and a draught of 13 feet (4.0 m). ^[2] They displaced 987 long tons (1,003 t) on the surface and 1,488 long tons (1,512 t) submerged. The submarines had a crew of 60 officers and enlisted men. ^[3]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 2,500- brake-horsepower (1,864 kW) Sulzer diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 500-horsepower (373 kW) electric motor. They could reach 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 9 knots submerged. The submarines had a diving depth of 330 feet (100 m). ^[2]

The O 21 class was armed with eight 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Four of these were in the bow and two tubes were in the stern. The other pair were on an external rotating mount amidships. A reload was provided for each internal torpedo tube. ^[3] UD-4 equipped with two 2-centimetre (0.8 in) Flak 38 AA guns. ^[4]

Construction and career

The submarine was ordered on 8 July 1938 and laid down on 20 April 1939 as K XXVI at the shipyard of Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij in Rotterdam. During construction she was renamed O 26. Following the German invasion of 10 May 1940, the incomplete O 26 was captured at the yard by the invading forces. The Kriegsmarine decided to complete her and the launch took place on 23 November. She served in the Kriegsmarine as UD-4 and was commissioned on 28 January 1941, ^[5] with Korvettenkapitän Helmut Brümmer-Patzig in command. ^[6]

UD-4 among other types in the heavily damaged port of Kiel, April 1945

From January to April 1941, UD-4 served as school boat in Kiel when attached to the 1st Flotilla. In May, she was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla also in Kiel where she was used as a trial boat. She remained there until July that year. In August 1941, the boat was transferred to the 5th Flotilla also in Kiel where she was used as a school boat until December 1942. In January 1943, UD-4 was transferred to Gotenhafen where she served as a school boat for 24th Flotilla and 27th Flotilla until January 1945. From January to March 1945, she was based in Hela and transferred to the 18th Flotilla where she served as a school boat. ^[7]

On 19 March 1945, UD-4 was decommissioned; she was scuttled in Kiel on 3 May. ^[7]

References

1. "Bouwnummer RDM-209, Hr. Ms. "O 26", 1940, onderzeeboot". RDM-archief (in Dutch).
2. Bagnasco, p. 240
3. van Willigenburg, p. 69
4. Gröner, Jung & Maass, p. 105
5. "HNMS O 26 of the Royal Dutch Navy". uboat.net. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
6. Busch & Röll 1999, p. 41.
7. "UD-4 (ex Dutch submarine O 26)". uboat.net. Retrieved 23 June 2025.

Bibliography

• Bagnasco, Erminio (2018) [1977]. Submarines of World War Two: Design, Development and Operations. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-1-68247-384-9.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat Commanders of World War II: A Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-1-55750-186-8.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter & Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN   978-0-85177-593-7.
• Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN   90-6013-522-9.
• Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard. Vol. 285. Osprey Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-4191-9.
• van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). Dutch Warships of World War II. Lanasta. ISBN   978-90-8616-318-2.