German submarine U-851

German submarine U-851 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-851
Ordered: 20 January 1941
Builder: DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number: 1057
Laid down: 18 March 1942
Launched: 15 January 1943
Commissioned: 21 May 1943
Fate: Missing since 27 March 1944
General characteristics
Class and type: Type IXD2 submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught: 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
Installed power:
  • 9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced
  • 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 12,750 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 57 nmi (106 km; 66 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Complement: 66
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Korvkptn. Hannes Weingärtner[2]
  • 23 March 1944 – 5 May 1945
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

She was ordered on 20 January 1941, and was laid down on 18 March 1942 at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1057. She was launched on 15 January 1943 and commissioned under the command of Korvettenkapitän Hannes Weingärtner on 21 May 1943.[3]

Design

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-851 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-851 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[4]

Service history

U-851 was last heard from on 27 March 1944, thirty-one days into her first, and only, war patrol. She is presumed sunk in the North Atlantic with all 70 of her crew missing.[3]

Her last known position was southeast of St. John's, Newfoundland 42°27′N 46°54′W.

References
  1. Busch & Röll 1997, p. 384.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hannes Weingärtner". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-851". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. Gröner 1991, pp. 74-75.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1997). Der U-Boot-Bau auf deutschen Werften. Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 (in German). II. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0509-6.
  • 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 1939–1945 (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.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-851". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-851". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.

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