German submarine U-871

German submarine U-871 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-871
Ordered: 25 August 1941
Builder: DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number: 1079
Laid down: 14 November 1942
Launched: 7 September 1943
Commissioned: 15 January 1944
Fate: Sunk on 26 September 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:
  • Kptlt. Erwin Ganzer[2]
  • 15 January 1944 – 26 September 1944
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

She was ordered on 25 August 1941, and was laid down on 14 November 1942 at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1079. She was launched on 7 September 1943 and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Erwin Ganzer on 15 January 1944.[3]

Design

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-871 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-871 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) Flak M42 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

On 26 September 1944, U-871 was sunk by depth charges northwest of the Azores, by a British B-17 Flying Fortress of 220 Squadron/P RAF. All 69 of her crew were lost.[3]

The wreck lies at 43°18′N 36°28′W.[3]

References
  1. Busch & Röll 1997, p. 384.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Erwin Ganzer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-871". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 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-871". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-871". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

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