U-1, the first Type II boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-5
Ordered2 February 1935
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number240
Laid down11 February 1935
Launched14 August 1935
Commissioned31 August 1935
FateSunk 19 March 1943, west of Pillau in a diving accident. 21 dead and 16 survivors
General characteristics
Class and typeType IIA coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 254 t (250 long tons) surfaced
  • 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
  • 381 t (375 long tons) total
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)
Draught3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 shp) (diesels)
  • 360 PS (260 kW; 360 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 1,050 nmi (1,940 km; 1,210 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35 nmi (65 km; 40 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:
  • U-boat School Flotilla
  • 1 September 1935 – 1 September 1939
  • 1 October 1939 – 1 February 1940
  • 1 March 1940 – 1 April 1940
  • 1 May 1940 – 30 June 1940
  • 21st U-boat Flotilla
  • 1 July 1940 – 19 March 1943
Identification codes: M 27 527
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Rolf Dau
  • 31 August 1935 – 27 September 1936
  • Kptlt. Gerhard Glattes
  • 1 October 1936 – 2 February 1938
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Günter Kutschmann
  • 3 February 1938 – 4 December 1939
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock
  • 5 December 1939 – 11 August 1940
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Herbert Opitz
  • 12 August 1940 – 27 March 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Bothe
  • 28 March 1941 – 6 January 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Friederich
  • 7 January – 23 March 1942
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Hans-Dieter Mohs
  • 26 March – May 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Kurt Pressel
  • May - 9 November 1942
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Hermann Rahn
  • 10 November 1942 – 19 March 1943
  • Lt.z.S. Alfred Radermacher
  • March 1943[1]
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 24 August – 8 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 4 – 19 April 1940
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged

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-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]

Design

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 (250 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]

References

  1. ^ a b Busch & Röll 1999a, p. 283.
  2. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 107.
  3. ^ Busch & Röll 1999b, p. 85.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999a). 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 (1999b). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links

54°40′N 19°45′E / 54.667°N 19.750°E / 54.667; 19.750

German Type II submarines
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1943
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