German submarine U-121 was a long-lived Type IIBU-boat built during World War II for service in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. U-121 spent the entire war as a training vessel and was scuttled at the end of the conflict.
U-121 was one of two Type II U-boats built at Flender Werke in Lübeck. Like her sister boat U-120 (also built in Lübeck), she was originally constructed for export to China. The advent of World War II and the increased training needs of the U-Boot-Waffe led the German high command to assign U-120 and U-121 to the training command instead.[1]
The Chinese Nationalist Government used 10,000,000 Marks to order two Type IIB U-boats in 1937. They also dispatched 80 men to Germany for training in submarine operations. The Japanese Government complained over this transaction, so the Chinese took their money back and the pair of Type IIB submarines joined the Kriegsmarine after the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe. They were U-120 and U-121.
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German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-121 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254 t), however.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and a draught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 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-121 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 twentyfive.[2]
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IIB boat U-121". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 121". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 31 January 2015.
April 10, 2024
german, submarine, 1940, other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, german, submarine, long, lived, type, boat, built, during, world, service, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, spent, entire, training, vessel, scuttled, conflict, typical, type, boathistoryn. For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 121 German submarine U 121 was a long lived Type IIB U boat built during World War II for service in Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine U 121 spent the entire war as a training vessel and was scuttled at the end of the conflict U 9 a typical Type IIB boatHistoryNazi GermanyNameU 121Ordered28 September 1937BuilderFlender Werke LubeckYard number269Laid down16 April 1938Launched20 April 1940Commissioned28 May 1940FateScuttled 5 May 1945 at Bremerhaven Raised and scrapped 1950General characteristicsClass and typeType IIB coastal submarineDisplacement279 t 275 long tons surfaced 328 t 323 long tons submergedLength42 70 m 140 ft 1 in o a 27 80 m 91 ft 2 in pressure hullBeam4 08 m 13 ft 5 in o a 4 00 m 13 ft 1 in pressure hull Height8 60 m 28 ft 3 in Draught3 90 m 12 ft 10 in Installed power700 PS 510 kW 690 bhp diesels 410 PS 300 kW 400 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed13 knots 24 km h 15 mph surfaced 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 mph submergedRange1 800 nmi 3 300 km 2 100 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph surfaced 35 43 nmi 65 80 km 40 49 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth80 m 260 ft Complement3 officers 22 menArmament3 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes 5 torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB mines 1 2 cm 0 79 in anti aircraft gunService recordPart of U boat School Flotilla 28 May 30 June 1940 21st U boat Flotilla 1 July 1940 25 March 1942 24th U boat Flotilla 26 March 15 May 1942 21st U boat Flotilla 16 May 1942 16 March 1945 31st U boat Flotilla 17 March 5 May 1945Identification codes M 01 240Commanders Oblt z S Kptlt Karl Ernst Schroeter 28 May 1940 30 March 1941 Oblt z S Otto Harms October 5 November 1940 Oblt z S Adalbert Schnee 6 27 November 1940 Oblt z S Egon Reiner von Schlippenbach 31 March 8 July 1941 Kptlt Gert Hetschko 9 July 1941 25 March 1942 Lt z S Oblt z S Ernst von Witzendorff 26 March 19 April 1942 Lt z S Oblt z S Otto Westphalen 16 May 1942 8 February 1943 Lt z S Otto Hubschen September December 1942 Oblt z S Ewald Hulsenbeck 9 February 1943 22 February 1944 Oblt z S d R Friedrich Horst 23 February 1944 5 May 1945Operations No patrolsVictories No ships sunk or damagedU 121 was one of two Type II U boats built at Flender Werke in Lubeck Like her sister boat U 120 also built in Lubeck she was originally constructed for export to China The advent of World War II and the increased training needs of the U Boot Waffe led the German high command to assign U 120 and U 121 to the training command instead 1 Contents 1 Built for China 2 Design 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksBuilt for China editThe Chinese Nationalist Government used 10 000 000 Marks to order two Type IIB U boats in 1937 They also dispatched 80 men to Germany for training in submarine operations The Japanese Government complained over this transaction so the Chinese took their money back and the pair of Type IIB submarines joined the Kriegsmarine after the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe They were U 120 and U 121 Design editGerman Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs U 121 had a displacement of 279 tonnes 275 long tons when at the surface and 328 tonnes 323 long tons while submerged Officially the standard tonnage was 250 long tons 254 t however 2 The U boat had a total length of 42 70 m 140 ft 1 in a pressure hull length of 28 20 m 92 ft 6 in a beam of 4 08 m 13 ft 5 in a height of 8 60 m 28 ft 3 in and a draught of 3 90 m 12 ft 10 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 460 metric horsepower 340 kW 450 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 knots 22 km h 14 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 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 121 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 twentyfive 2 References edit Blair 1996 178 179 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 39 40 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll 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 Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Blair Clay 1996 Hitler s U Boat War The Hunters 1939 1942 New York Random House ISBN 0 394 58839 8 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type IIB boat U 121 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 31 January 2015 Hofmann Markus U 121 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 31 January 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 121 1940 amp oldid 1209722319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
