U116 1942
U233 1943
U234 1944
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| U116 | 615 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 7.1939 | 3.5.1941 | 7.1941 | sunk 15.10.1942 | |
| U117 | 616 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 7.1939 | 26.7.1941 | 10.1941 | sunk 7.8.1943 | |
| U118 | 617 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 3.1940 | 23.9.1941 | 12.1941 | sunk 12.6.1943 | |
| U119 | 624 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 5.1940 | 6.1.1942 | 4.1942 | sunk 24.6.1943 | |
| U219 | 625 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 5.1941 | 6.10.1942 | 12.1942 | captured by Japan 6.5.1945 (伊505 [I505]) | |
| U220 | 626 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 6.1941 | 16.1.1943 | 3.1943 | sunk 28.10.1943 | |
| U233 | 663 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 8.1941 | 8.5.1943 | 9.1943 | sunk 5.7.1944 | |
| U234 | 664 | Germaniawerft, Kiel | 10.1941 | 23.12.1943 | 3.1944 | surrendered 5.1945, to USA, sunk as target 20.11.1947 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
1763 / 2177 |
|
Length, m |
89.8 |
|
Breadth, m |
9.20 |
|
Draught, m |
4.71 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 Germania diesels / 2 AEG electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
4200 - 4800 / 1100 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16.4 - 17 / 7 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 338 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
18450(10) / 93(4) |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 105/42 SK C/32, 1 x 1 - 37/80 SK C/30, 1 x 1 - 20/65 C/38, 2 - 533 TT (stern, 15), 66 mines U233, 234: 1 x 1 - 37/69 FlaK M/42, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38, 2 - 533 TT (stern, 15), 66 mines |
|
Electronic equipment |
completed 1941-1942: S-Gerät sonar, GHG hydrophone completed 1942-1943: FuMO 30 radar, S-Gerät sonar, GHG hydrophone, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite completed 1943-1944: FuMO 30 radar, GHG hydrophone, FuMB 3 Bali, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites |
|
Complement |
52 |
|
Diving depth operational, m |
100 |
Project history: Unique series of German submarines, specially designed as minelayers and unlike usual boats should use not TMA and TMB ground mines, laid through torpedo tubes, but heavy moored mines of SMA type. Design of 2500t submarine minelayer of XA series was turned down by submarine fleet command. Boats of XB series became as though its decreased copy, but, nevertheless, were the largest submarines built in Germany in days of the Second World War.
Double-hulled; maximal diving depth was 150m. Mines took places in 30 vertical tubes, 6 from which were in a bow compartment on centre line, and remaining placed in four groups between pressure and outer hull. Besides mines submarines had 2 stern TT and carried 15 torpedoes (inc 11 out of a pressure hull). In 1943 survived boats received snorkels. They were practically not used as minelayers and served mainly as suppliers.
Modernizations: 1942-1943, most survived early built: + FuMO 30 radar, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite
1943 - 1944, most survived were rearmed with artillery consisted of 1 x 1 - 37/69 FlaK M/42, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38
1943-1944, most survived early built: - S-Gerät sonar, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite; + FuMB 3 Bali, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites
1944-1945, some survived: - FuMO 30 radar; + FuMO 61 radar
Naval service: U116 after 15.10.1942 was lost by unknown cause in Atlantic or Bay of Biscay. U117 was sunk 7.8.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-1 sqn from escort carrier Card NW off Azores. U118 was sunk 12.6.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-9 sqn from escort carrier Bogue SW off Azores. U119 was sunk 24.6.1943 by British sloop Starling NW off coast of Spain.
U219 was captured by Japanese troops at Djakarta 6.5.1945, commissioned by IJN as I505; surrendered and scuttled by British in February, 1946. U220 was sunk 28.10.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-1 sqn from escort carrier Block Island in Northern Atlantic. U233 was sunk 5.7.1944 by American escort destroyers Baker and Thomas SE off Halifax. U234 was transferred on reparations to the USA and sunk on manoeuvres 20.11.1947.
U118 June, 12, 1943
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14