Last of the U-Boots

[Letum]

Does anyone know when the last WW2 German U-boot stopped service? :hmm:

The latest I know of was U-123 wich operated under the French navy until 1959. That came as a shock to me!

[Jimbuna]

U-471 (http://uboat.net/boats/u471.htm). Type VIIC (http://uboat.net/types/viic.htm). Launched on 6 Mar, 1943 and commissioned on 5 May, 1943.
Bombed in dry dock on 6 Aug, 1944 in Toulon, France, in position 43.07N, 05.55E, by bombs from American B-24 Liberator aircraft. Raised in 1945 and returned to service as French Millé from 1946. Stricken 9 July, 1963 as Q339.

U-573 (http://uboat.net/boats/u573.htm). Type VIIC (http://uboat.net/types/viic.htm). Launched on 17 Apr, 1941 and commissioned on 5 Jun, 1941.
Damaged by depth charges from a British 'Hudson' aircraft (Sqdn. 233) north-west of Algiers in approx. position 37.00N, 01.00E.
Interned at Cartagena, Spain on 2 May 1942. Sold to Spain on 2 Aug, 1942. Became the Spanish submarine G 7. In service until 1971.

:up:

[Letum]

WoW! Stunning info! Thanks very Much!
It's not like the VII boats where really built to last in the first place!

morale must have got low on a 30 year old u-boat in peace time.


There must be some great photos of those subs somewhere!


Shame they scrapped U-471 (http://uboat.net/boats/u471.htm)! If only the museams had enough money to buy her.

[Jimbuna]

If you get stuck...get in touch...it'll have to be after xmas now cos kids are getting a little excited at my end lol :up:

[CCIP]

As per U-boat.net

U-995 (VIIC), which is now on display at Laboe, served as the Norwegian "Kaura" until 1965.

U-2540 (XXI), now on display at Wesermunde, served as research vessel "Wilhelm Bauer" and used for testing new models of German torpedoes in the 60's and 70's, and was transferred to the museum in 1984.

And I don't think it's true that morale would've been low - it's peace time. I remember visiting the Soviet submarine D2, which was built in the late 20's, fought in WWII and used for training until the 80's, and the retired diesel boat captain who lead the tour - while not having much to say for the comforts - spoke very fondly about the boat. I'm sure the VIIs weren't used as combat-ready boats, either - training most likely.

[peterloo]

Some U-boats are still on service (of cause not Navy, but other stuffs)

U-550 become a museum boat, where she has the service there

A Type XXI (U-2540?) became a research boat


Romeo and Whiskey class submarine, which is derivated from the Type XXI boat, remained service in North Korea. China also got some, but put it in a reserve position (in case of a war)

[Ducimus]

It's not like the VII boats where really built to last in the first place!


I read somewhere that VII boats were single hulled, not a true double hull. That always stuck out to me for some reason. Personnaly if i had to be on a submarine, id feel better on one with a full double hull that encloses the pressure hull.

[CCIP]

Hmm, I wonder what's meant by that... I always thought the II was a single hull, while the VII was a double hull. Looking at diagrams... well, I'm not sure actually :88)

Whatever it was, it certainly was a hell of a lot tougher than any other single-hull boat that I know of.

[Letum]

Hmm, I wonder what's meant by that... I always thought the II was a single hull, while the VII was a double hull. Looking at diagrams... well, I'm not sure actually :88)

Whatever it was, it certainly was a hell of a lot tougher than any other single-hull boat that I know of.

The VII is a pressure hull surrounded by fuel tanks, ballast tanks and a non water tight skin. The skin just covers external components and pipes, it also gives the boat a more streamlined shape. It is not a second hull because it is not at all watertight.
The holes all along the u-boats skin are to let water in to the cavity between the skin and the pressure hull so that the boat can dive quickly. If you poke a stick through the holes you can knock on the pressure hull.
It all depends ion how you define a hull really, but I think the VII's outer steel is more of a skin than a hull.

[Ducimus]

Well technically i think both the IX and VII are double hull.

Double hull meaning, pressure hull with an exterior casing that surrounds the pressurehull that is free flooding. Also known as the subs super structure by some. The super structures primary job, at least to my understanding, is to form a protective layer around the submarine and it's components that reside outside of the pressure hull. (Air flasks, fuel tanks, ballast tanks, etc etc at nausem)

Now the biggest difference that im aware of between the two uboats in question is that the type 9 has a full superstructure, where as the type7 has just a partial one. This is why on the type7, you can see the saddle tanks, where as the type9, which also has saddle tanks, you can't see them because its completely covered by the outer hull. So im guessing up top, along the main deck both subs have equal double hulled protection, but after that, things sort of thin out. It give's the impression that the type 9's pressure hull might be more protected then the type7's, but i think the reality is, the outterhull wasnt really designed as armor plating :rotfl:

Another intresting note is how later in the war, you had modifications done to the type9 that cut down the main deck/outter hull.. Air would get trapped inside the boats outter hull, which slowed down its dive time. The type 7, never had this problem.