German submarine U-148 (1940)

German submarine U-148 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 10 April 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 277. She was launched on 16 November 1940 and commissioned on 28 December with Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Radke in command.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-148.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-148
Ordered: 25 September 1939
Builder: Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Laid down: 10 April 1940
Launched: 16 November 1940
Commissioned: 28 December 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]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Radke
  • 28 December 1940 – 14 September 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Mohr
  • 15 September 1941 – 15 January 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz Franke
  • 16 January − 19 October 1942
  • Hubert Brüninghaus
  • 20 October 1942 – 18 January 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Goske von Möllendorf
  • 19 January − 15 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz Schaeffer
  • 30 November 1943 – 15 December 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Renko Tammen
  • 16 December 1944 -2 May 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert Waldschmidt
  • 31 May 1943 – 30 December 1944

U-148 began her service life with the 24th U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 21st flotilla and subsequently to the 31st flotilla. She spent the war as a training vessel.

She was scuttled in May 1945.

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-148 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.[2] 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).[2]

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).[2] 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-148 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.[2]

Fate

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

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-148". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net uboat.net. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  2. 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.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-148". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 148". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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