German submarine U-12 (1935)

Last updated

U-9 IWM HU 1012.jpg
U-9, a typical Type IIB boat
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-12
Ordered20 July 1934
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number546
Laid down20 May 1935
Launched11 September 1935
Commissioned30 September 1935
FateSunk 8 October 1939 in the English Channel near Dover. 27 dead
General characteristics
Class and type Type IIB coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 279  t (275 long tons) surfaced
  • 328 t (323 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draught3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 1,800 nmi (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35–43 nmi (65–80 km; 40–49 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement3 officers, 22 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 17 865
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 25 August – 9 September 1939
  • b. 18 – 19 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 23 September – 8 October 1939
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged

German submarine U-12 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine laid down on 20 May 1935 by Germaniawerft at Kiel and commissioned on 30 September.

Contents

Design

German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-12 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. [1] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 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 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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). [1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). [1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-12 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 twentyfive. [1]

Fate

She was sunk 8 October 1939 by a mine, near Dover in the English Channel. Her exact position is not known but it is at approximately 51°10′N01°30′E / 51.167°N 1.500°E / 51.167; 1.500 . All 27 of her crew died. The body of the commanding officer, Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Ropp, was washed ashore on the French coast near Dunkirk on 29 October 1939.

In 2002, the wreck was nominated by the German government to be designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This vessel was designated as a representative of all others lost within UK jurisdiction.

Related Research Articles

German submarine <i>U-20</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-20 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down on 1 August 1935, by Germaniawerft of Kiel as yard number 550. She was commissioned on 1 February 1936. During World War II, she conducted operations against enemy shipping.

German submarine <i>U-22</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-22 was a Nazi German Type IIB U-boat which was commissioned in 1936 following construction at the Germaniawerft shipyards at Kiel. Her pre-war service was uneventful, as she trained crews and officers in the rapidly expanding U-boat arm of the Kriegsmarine following the abandonment of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles two years before.

German submarine <i>U-10</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-10 was a Type IIB U-boat built before World War II for service in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. As she was one of the first batch of boats built following the renunciation of the Treaty of Versailles, she was only capable of coastal and short cruising work. This led to her being reassigned to training duties after the Norwegian campaign of 1940 together with many of her sister boats.

German submarine U-16 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served during World War II. It was launched on 28 April 1936, under the command of Heinz Beduhn, with a crew of 23. Its last of four commanders was Horst Wellner.

German submarine <i>U-23</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-23 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built in Germaniawerft, Kiel. She was laid down on 11 April 1936 and commissioned on 24 September.

German submarine <i>U-24</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-24 was a Type IIB U-boat that was in service of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 21 April 1936 at the F. Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel with yard number 554, launched on 24 September and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on 10 October. Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Buchholz took command on 3 July 1937.

German submarine <i>U-11</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-11 was a Type IIB U-boat built before World War II for service in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was commissioned on 21 September 1935, with Kapitänleutnant Hans-Rudolf Rösing in command. She served in several training flotillas in her 10-year career, but sank or damaged no ships.

German submarine <i>U-13</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-13 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which was commissioned on 30 November 1936, following construction at the Deutsche Werke shipyards at Kiel. The first commander on board was Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen. In her career she completed nine patrols, all while serving with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. The U-boat succeeded in sinking nine ships and damaging three more.

German submarine <i>U-15</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-15 was a Type IIB U-boat of the Kriegsmarine. It was commissioned on 7 March 1936, following construction at the Deutsche Werke shipyards at Kiel. Its first commander was Werner von Schmidt. In its career, it completed five patrols, all while serving under the 1st U-boat Flotilla. It sank three ships.

German submarine <i>U-17</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-17 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. It was built in Germaniawerft, Kiel, where it was laid down on 1 July 1935 and commissioned on 3 December 1935, under the command of Werner Fresdorf.

German submarine <i>U-18</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-18 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. It was laid down 10 July 1935 and commissioned on 4 January 1936. It served in many U-boat flotillas during its service.

German submarine <i>U-14</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-14 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. It served with 3rd U-boat Flotilla from 18 January 1936 to 31 October 1939. U-14 completed six wartime patrols and sank nine ships totalling 12,344 GRT.

German submarine <i>U-8</i> (1935) German World War II submarine

The German submarine U-8 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, based at Kiel during World War II. It was one of the smaller versions, and was first launched on 16 July 1935. Its first commander was Harald Grosse. U-8 would have 18 commanders over the course of its service, the last being Jürgen Kriegshammer.

German submarine <i>U-21</i> (1936) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-21 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down 4 March 1936, by Germaniawerft of Kiel as yard number 551. She was commissioned on 3 August 1936. During World War II, she conducted operations against enemy shipping.

German submarine <i>U-121</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-121 was a long-lived Type IIB U-boat built during World War II for service in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. U-121 spent the entire war as a training vessel and was scuttled at the end of the conflict.

German submarine U-152 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 6 July 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 281. She was launched on 14 December 1940 and commissioned on 29 January 1941 with Kapitänleutnant Peter-Erich Cremer in command.

German submarine U-2519 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. The submarine was laid down on 24 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 13 October 1944, and commissioned on 15 November 1944 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Peter-Erich Cremer, who commanded her until February 1945. U-2519 conducted no patrols and was scuttled on 3 May 1945 in Kiel. The wreck was broken up.

German submarine U-742 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 12 May 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 1 May 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Heinz Schwassmann in command.

German submarine U-740 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 26 April 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 27 March 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Günther Stark in command.

German submarine U-749 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 28 September 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 14 August 1943 with Tenente di vascello Alberto Longhi in command.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.

Bibliography