German submarine U-865
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-865 |
| Ordered: | 25 August 1941 |
| Builder: | DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number: | 1073 |
| Laid down: | 5 January 1943 |
| Launched: | 12 July 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 25 October 1943 |
| Fate: | Sank due to unknown causes after 9 September 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type IXC/40 submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: | 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| 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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| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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German submarine U-865 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during the Second World War. She was laid down in Bremen, Germany on 5 January 1943, and launched on 12 July 1943.
Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-865 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.[1] 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 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-865 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.[1]
Service history
She had one commander, Oberleutnant zur See Dietrich Stellmacher, for her two patrols.[2] She had a crew complement of 59.
She did not sink any shipping on her two patrols, and went missing after leaving Trondheim in Norway on 9 September 1944, with all hands lost.
In late June/ early July 1944, she was attacked by an RAF B-24 Liberator, which did some damage to her, however she in turn did some damage to the attacking aircraft with the submarine's flak gun, setting the aircraft on fire. Both the U-boat and aircraft were forced to return to their respective bases.[3][4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
- ↑ Dietrich Stellmacher on Helgason, Guðmundur. "Dietrich Stellmacher". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-865". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ↑ F.d.U./B.d.U.'S War Log1 - 15 July 1944, p 412 http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB30350.htm
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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-865". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.