Table of Contents
How close did German U-boats get to the coast?
U-boats could only travel about sixty miles underwater before having to surface for fresh air. They often attacked ships while on the surface using deck-mounted guns.
What was the range of a German U boat?
Since World War I, nautical technology has evolved at a rapid rate, but in 1914 U-boats were considered quite advanced. These vessels could reach maximum depths of 50 meters or 165 feet, achieve speeds of 16 knots at the surface and eight knots underwater, and had a range of up to 25,000 miles.
What was the range of a ww2 U boat?
Specifications
| Class | VIIA | VIID |
|---|---|---|
| Surface range at 10 knots | 6,200 nmi (11,500 km; 7,100 mi) | 11,200 nmi (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) |
| Submerged range at 4 knots | 74–94 nmi (137–174 km; 85–108 mi) | 69 nmi (128 km; 79 mi) |
| Maximum operating depth | 220 m (720 ft) | 200 m (660 ft) |
| Crush depth | 230–250 m (750–820 ft) | 220–240 m (720–790 ft) |
How far could U-boats go?
When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
How many ships did u-boats sunk off US coast?
From the start of offensive operations in mid-January through March, 1942, U-boats sank 39 ships. The first U-boat was finally sunk off the American Coast on April 14, 1942. The US destroyer USS Roper sank U-85 east of the Outer Banks, after using radar to catch it on the surface.
What was the largest German U-boat?
Type XB
The first Type XB was launched in May 1941. At 2,710 tonnes submerged and fully loaded, they were the largest German U-boats ever built, and they had to sacrifice diving speed and agility.
What was it like to live on a German U-boat?
Life on a German U-boat or Unterseeboot was hard. Yet these vessels were the pride of the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. They preyed on merchant shipping and their naval escorts either alone or in so-called Wolf Packs.
What happened to Germany’s U-boat fleet?
While the Armistice of 1918 forced Germany to surrender its entire U-boat fleet, and the Treaty of Versailles prevented them from constructing any more, the effectiveness of the U-boat fleet was not forgotten by Germany’s military leadership. Soon after Hitler took power, he made the restoration of Germany’s U-boat fleet one of his priorities.
What was the average deployment time of a German U-boat?
The average deployment time of a U-boat mission could be anywhere from three months to six, and during this time the crew had to put up with extremely adverse conditions. German WWII U-Boat (Type VII) — Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Halifax (NS) September 2017 Photo by Ron Cogswell CC BY SA 2.0
How many U-boats were sunk in WW2?
In March 1943 U-boats had almost crippled Britain’s Atlantic supply line, but by May that year the Allies had struck back in force, and 41 U-boats had been sunk – often with their entire crews perishing. Surrender of German U-boats, 1945.