German submarine U-146 (1940)

German submarine U-146 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarineduring World War II. Her keel was laid down on 30 March 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 275. She was launched on 21 September 1940 and commissioned on 30 October with Eberhart Hoffmann in command.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-146.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-146
Ordered: 25 September 1939
Builder: Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Laid down: 30 March 1940
Launched: 21 September 1940
Commissioned: 30 October 1940
Fate: Scuttled on 2 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven
General characteristics
Class and type: IID
Type: Coastal submarine
Displacement:
  • 314 t (309 long tons) surfaced
  • 364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height: 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught: 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power:
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Range:
  • 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 80 m (260 ft)
Complement: 3 officers, 22 men
Armament:
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Eberhart Hoffmann
  • 30 October 1940 – 6 June 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Ites
  • 7 April - 26 August 1941
  • Lt.z.S. Ewald Hüstenbeck
  • 27 August - October 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Wihelm Grimme
  • October 1941 - June 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerth Gemeiner
  • June 1942 - August 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Jürgen Nissen
  • 8 September - October 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Hilsenitz
  • 2 November 1942 – 11 July 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert Waldschmidt
  • 31 May 1943 – 30 December 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmuth Wüst
  • 22 December 1944 – 9 March 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Carl Schauroth
  • 10 March - 2 May 1945
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 29 April - 11 May 1941
  • 2nd patrol: 31 May - 26 June 1941
Victories: One ship sunk

U-146 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 22nd flotilla and subsequently to the 3rd flotilla where she conducted two patrols, sinking one ship, in 1941. She spent the rest of the war as a training vessel, moving back to the 22nd flotilla.

She was scuttled in May 1945.

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-146 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-146 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.[3]

Operational career

1st patrol

The submarine's first patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 17 June 1941. She crossed the North Sea and negotiated the gap between the Faroe and Shetland Islands. She sank Pluto 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) north north-west of the Butt of Lewis (in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland). She then sailed to a point south-west of Ireland.

2nd patrol

For her second patrol, she left Kiel on 26 July 1941. Her return was on 11 August. No further details are available.

Fate

The boat was scuttled in the Raederschleuse (lock) at Wilhelmshaven on 2 May 1945. The wreck was broken up on an unknown date.

Summary of raiding history
Date Ship Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate
28 June 1941 Pluto  Finland 3,496 Sunk

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-146". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-146". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • 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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-146". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 146". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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