A Type IIA U-boat, she was built at the Deutsche Werke shipyards in Kiel, yard number 236, her keel being laid on 11 February 1935 amid celebration. She was commissioned on 29 June 1935 after a very rapid construction, and was manned by crews trained in the Netherlands.
German Type II submarines were based on the Finnish submarine Vesikko. U-1 had a displacement of 254 tonnes (250 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254 t), however.[5] The U-boat had a total length of 40.90 m (134 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 27.80 m (91 ft 2 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 3.83 m (12 ft 7 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 360 metric horsepower (260 kW; 360 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).[5]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[5] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-1 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.[5]
Service historyedit
Her pre-war service was unremarkable, but she did gain a reputation as a poor ship. Her rapid construction, combined with the inadequacy of the technology which was used to create her, made her uncomfortable, leaky and slow. When war came, there were already plans to shelve her and her immediate sister boats for use as training boats only.
Despite this however, owing to a shortage of available units she sailed on 29 March 1940 against British shipping operating off Norway, close to the limit of her effective operating range. She failed to find a target, but was sent out again on 4 April, in preparation for Operation Weserübung (the invasion of Norway).
Fateedit
U-1 sent a brief radio signal on 6 April, giving her position, before she disappeared. She was struck by a mine in British minefield Field No. 7 in the North Sea north of Terschelling at position 54°14′N05°07′E / 54.233°N 5.117°E / 54.233; 5.117. The entire aft section of the boat was blown off and all hands lost. In June 2007, the wreck of U-1 was located by divers.
She was the first of over 1,000 U-boats to serve during the Battle of the Atlantic, and one of over 700 to be lost at sea.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1997). Der U-Boot-Bau auf deutschen Werften. Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. II. Hamburg: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0509-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999a). 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.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999b). 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.
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.
Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN3-7637-5213-7.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IIA boat U-1". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 1". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
January 01, 1970
german, submarine, 1935, other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, german, submarine, first, boat, submarine, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, following, adolf, hitler, abrogation, terms, treaty, versailles, 1935, which, banned, germany, possessing. For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 1 German submarine U 1 was the first U boat or submarine built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine following Adolf Hitler s abrogation of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1935 which banned Germany possessing a submarine force Prewar picture of U 1History Nazi Germany NameU 1 Ordered2 February 1935 2 BuilderDeutsche Werke Kiel 1 Cost1 500 000 Reichsmark Yard number236 1 Laid down11 February 1935 1 Launched15 June 1935 1 Commissioned29 June 1935 1 FateSunk 6 April 1940 north of Terschelling by a British mine 3 General characteristics Class and typeType IIA coastal submarine Displacement254 t 250 long tons surfaced 303 t 298 long tons submerged 381 t 375 long tons total Length40 90 m 134 ft 2 in o a 27 80 m 91 ft 2 in pressure hull Beam4 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 83 m 12 ft 7 in Installed power700 PS 510 kW 690 shp diesels 360 PS 260 kW 360 shp electric Propulsion2 propeller shafts 2 0 85 m 2 ft 9 in three bladed propellers 2 diesel engines 2 double acting electric motors Speed13 knots 24 km h 15 mph surfaced 6 9 knots 12 8 km h 7 9 mph submerged Range1 050 nmi 1 940 km 1 210 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph surfaced 35 nmi 65 km 40 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged Test depth80 m 260 ft Complement3 officers 22 men Armament3 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes 5 torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB mines 1 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun Service record Part of U boat School Flotilla 1 July 1935 1 February 1940 1 March 6 April 1940Identification codes M 27 893Commanders Oblt z S Kptlt Klaus Ewerth 29 June 1935 30 September 1936 Kptlt Alexander Gelhaar 1 October 1936 2 February 1938 Unknown 3 February 28 October 1938 Kptlt K Kapt Jurgen Deecke 29 October 1938 6 April 1940 4 Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 15 29 March 1940 2nd patrol 4 6 April 1940Victories None A Type IIA U boat she was built at the Deutsche Werke shipyards in Kiel yard number 236 her keel being laid on 11 February 1935 amid celebration She was commissioned on 29 June 1935 after a very rapid construction and was manned by crews trained in the Netherlands Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 3 Fate 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type II submarines were based on the Finnish submarine Vesikko U 1 had a displacement of 254 tonnes 250 long tons when at the surface and 303 tonnes 298 long tons while submerged Officially the standard tonnage was 250 long tons 254 t however 5 The U boat had a total length of 40 90 m 134 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 27 80 m 91 ft 2 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 83 m 12 ft 7 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 360 metric horsepower 260 kW 360 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 5 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots 24 km h 15 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 6 9 knots 12 8 km h 7 9 mph 5 When submerged the boat could operate for 35 nautical miles 65 km 40 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 1 600 nautical miles 3 000 km 1 800 mi at 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph U 1 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 5 Service history editHer pre war service was unremarkable but she did gain a reputation as a poor ship Her rapid construction combined with the inadequacy of the technology which was used to create her made her uncomfortable leaky and slow When war came there were already plans to shelve her and her immediate sister boats for use as training boats only Despite this however owing to a shortage of available units she sailed on 29 March 1940 against British shipping operating off Norway close to the limit of her effective operating range She failed to find a target but was sent out again on 4 April in preparation for Operation Weserubung the invasion of Norway Fate editU 1 sent a brief radio signal on 6 April giving her position before she disappeared She was struck by a mine in British minefield Field No 7 in the North Sea north of Terschelling at position 54 14 N 05 07 E 54 233 N 5 117 E 54 233 5 117 The entire aft section of the boat was blown off and all hands lost In June 2007 the wreck of U 1 was located by divers She was the first of over 1 000 U boats to serve during the Battle of the Atlantic and one of over 700 to be lost at sea References edit a b c d e Rossler 1979 p 99 Busch amp Roll 1999a p 15 Helgason Gudmundur The Type IIA U boat U 1 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 18 August 2020 Busch amp Roll 1999b p 283 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 39 40 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1997 Der U Boot Bau auf deutschen Werften Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 in German Vol II Hamburg Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0509 6 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999a 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 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999b 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 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 Kemp Paul 1997 U Boats Destroyed German submarine losses in the World Wars Arms and Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 Rossler Eberhard 1979 Die deutschen U Boote und ihre Werften eine Bilddokumentation uber den deutschen U Bootbau in zwei Banden in German Vol I Munich Bernard amp Graefe ISBN 3 7637 5213 7 Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Great Britain Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type IIA boat U 1 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 6 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 1 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 30 January 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 1 1935 amp oldid 1209796859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
