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"XB" type oceangoing submarine minelayers (U116) (1941 - 1944)


Photo



U118 June, 12, 1943

Ships


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


Technical data


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



Standard scale images


<i>U233</i> 1943
U233 1943
<i>U116</i> 1942
U116 1942
<i>U234</i> 1944
U234 1944


Graphics


<i>U118</i> June, 12, 1943
U118 June, 12, 1943


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.

1943