German submarine U-169
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-169 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | DeSchiMAG, Bremen |
| Yard number: | 708 |
| Laid down: | 15 May 1940 |
| Launched: | 6 June 1942[1] |
| Commissioned: | 4 November 1942[1] |
| Fate: | Sunk, 27 March 1943[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type IXC/40 submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Range: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record[2] | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | 1st patrol: 18–27 March 1943 |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-169 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 15 May 1941 by the Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen as yard number 708. She was launched on 6 June 1942 and commissioned on 16 November with Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Bauer in command.
Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-169 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-169 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[3]
Service history
The U-boat's service began with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla. She then moved to the 10th flotilla on 1 March 1943 for operations.
She was sunk, in position 60°54′N 15°25′W / 60.900°N 15.417°W, on 27 March 1943 by a British B-17 Flying Fortress of No. 206 Squadron RAF piloted by Flying Officer Ian Samuel.
References
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) 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 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-169". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 169". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.