What was the speed of a German U-boat?

The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).

How long could a German U-boat stay at sea?

The Germans' most formidable naval weapon was the U-boat, a submarine far more sophisticated than those built by other nations at the time. The typical U-boat was 214 feet long, carried 35 men and 12 torpedoes, and could travel underwater for two hours at a time.

Did German U-boats have toilets?

Fate. U-1206 was one of the late-war boats fitted with new deepwater high-pressure toilets which allowed them to be used while running at depth. Flushing these facilities was an extremely complicated procedure and special technicians were trained to operate them.

How fast did ww2 submarines go?

Model of the USS Balao (SS-285) Fleet Submarine

On the surface, powered by four diesel engines, the Balao had a top speed just over 20 knots (37 km/hr); cruising at 10 knots (18 km/hr) her range was 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km).

Did any German U-boats survived the war?

With the introduction of escorted convoys, shipping losses declined and in the end, the German strategy failed to destroy sufficient Allied shipping. An armistice became effective on 11 November 1918. Of the surviving German submarines 14 U-boats were scuttled and 122 surrendered.

U-Boats (World War II)

How deep could a ww2 U-boat dive?

World War II German U-boats generally had collapse depths in the range of 200 to 280 metres (660 to 920 feet).

What did Germans eat on U-boats?

Meat, vegetables (mainly potatoes), bread and fruits were the basic ingredients in the submariners' menu on German U-Boats during World War 2. While long-distance German U-Boats were excellent killing machines, habitability ranked very low on their designers' priority list.

What is the fastest sub in ww2?

The I-201 class were of advanced design, and had been built for high underwater speed. They were the fastest operational submarines built during World War II, surpassing even the German Type XXI submarines.

How fast was a World War 2 torpedo?

"The torpedoes used in World War II were usually 20 to 24 ft (6.1–7.3 m) long, carrying up to 600 lb (272 kg) of explosives at a speed of 50 knots for more than 10,000 yd (9,144 m)."

Which ship sank the most U boats?

For almost 73 years, the USS England has set a record for most subs sunk by a single ship. That record remains unbroken. Destroyer escorts were the econo-warships of the U.S. Navy in World War II.

How do you bathe in a submarine?

The showers on a submarine are set up much like the ones in your home, well kind of. They have hot and cold water access with a recirculation pump so that the water stays hot so that you can use it quickly and efficiently by minimising water usage. Reducing water usage is a constant major driver for submariners.

What happens to poop on a submarine?

Usually it sinks by itself, but some scrap metal can be added to aid its journey to the bottom of the ocean. Therefore, yes, submarines do produce trash that is thrown out into the ocean and it is terrible.

Did U-boats have to surface to fire?

And it must have done so on the surface of the water, where it was able to travel at a faster speed than the ships it pursued. By approaching from astern, where the lookouts rarely checked, the U-boat would be able to slip inside the convoy undetected, fire at close range, then submerge in order to get away.

Did U-boats have to surface for air?

The main propulsion of the U-boat is the diesel engine – of which there are two, one on each side (port and starboard). These engines consume outside air and were operable only on the surface.

How deep can a German U-boat dive?

All modern German submarines are tested for a depth of 197 feet, but for short periods they can go deeper. Cases are known of boats having dived to 250 to 300 feet without injury.

What country had the best torpedoes in World War II?

Nicknamed the “Long Lance” by naval historian Samuel Eliot Morrison, the Japanese Type 93 was the best torpedo of World War II.

What happens to a torpedo that misses its target?

For torpedoes that lacked this feature, most would simply run out of fuel/charge and sink under their own weight. As we previously mentioned, while torpedoes are close to neutral buoyancy, they are ever so slightly less so, meaning they will inexorably sink if they stop moving.

Can destroyers destroy submarines?

U.S. Navy destroyers will now be better equipped to hunt and destroy enemy submarines due to a series of hardware and software upgrades to its Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 destroyers.

Which submarine sank the most ships in ww2?

With 116,454 tons sunk, the USS Tang sank the most tonnage of shipping in World War II for the United States. Its tonnage was revised from the Joint Army–Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC) report, which initially credited Tang with fewer sinkings.

How many German U-boats are still missing?

A U-boat of this type, listed for decades as being sunk off Gibraltar, was found on the sea bottom about 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey in 1991. According to the definitive website Uboat.org, a total of 50 German U-boats remained unaccounted for after the end of World War II.

Did U-boats have showers?

Only one lavatory was on board, located close to the captain's small cabin which was the only private space on the vessel thanks to a plywood door. There were also no showers on board, so you can imagine the stench after six months at sea with the men returning to port wearing the same clothes that they departed in.

What was it like inside a German U-boat?

U-boat submariners had a 75% casualty rate, the highest of all German forces during the war. The U-505 had two bathrooms, one of which was used to store food for the first part of the voyage. For the entire two months at sea, the crew never bathed and instead cleaned themselves by swabbing with alcohol.

What percentage of German submarine crews were killed in World War II?

It was the German subs that were in perilous waters. Blair attributes to the German historian Axel Niestle the conclusion that of 859 U-boats that set off on war patrols, 648 were lost -- 75 percent. Of these, 429 yielded no survivors.