German submarine Wilhelm Bauer (originally designated U-2540) is a Type XXIU-boat of Nazi Germany's navy (Kriegsmarine), completed shortly before the end of World War II. It was scuttled at the end of the war, having never gone on patrol. In 1957, it was raised from the seabed off Flensburg Firth, refurbished, and recommissioned for use by the West-German Bundesmarine in 1960. Finally retired fully in 1983, it is the only floating example of a Type XXI U-boat. It has been modified to appear in wartime configuration and exhibited at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven, Germany.[2]
Wilhelm Bauer (U-2540) at the Maritime Museum (2013)
Like all Type XXIU-boats, U-2540 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 2,100 tonnes (2,067 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[3] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3]U-2540 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.[3]
Construction and wartime serviceedit
Construction of U-2540 began on 28 October 1944 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. She was launched on 13 January 1945 and commissioned on 24 February 1945 as part of the 31st U-boat Flotilla for training purposes. In April 1945 the boat went to the front after training at Rønne on Bornholm. Due to the ongoing fuel shortages at the end of the war, the boat was relocated to Swinemünde before being scuttled near the Flensburglightship on 4 May 1945.
Salvage, refit and new serviceedit
In June 1957, after more than 12 years on the floor of the Baltic Sea, U-2540 was raised and overhauled at Howaldtswerke, Kiel. The submarine was commissioned as a research vessel in the Bundesmarine, serving from 1 September 1960 until 28 August 1968 as a test boat (class 241). On relaunch she was renamed Wilhelm Bauer, after the designer of the first German U-boat, Brandtaucher, built in Kiel by August Howaldt in 1850. From May 1970 she again entered service, this time with a civilian crew and served as a testbed for the technical innovations of the class 206 U-boat. After an underwater collision with the German destroyer Z-3(D172) on 6 May 1980 Wilhelm Bauer was discharged from use at Eckernförde on 18 November 1980 and finally released from service in 1983.
Conversion to museum shipedit
U-2540 was put on sale by the Ministry of Defence and acquired by the board of trustees of the German Maritime Museum Association and the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven. The boat was restored to its original World War II configuration after its transfer in August 1983 to the Seebeck yard, opening on 27 April 1984 as a museum ship in Bremerhaven, now sponsored by the Wilhelm Bauer Technology Museum association. It has imitation twin 30mm cannon and the bridge is not glazed as it was during service with the Bundesmarine.
In popular cultureedit
Whilhem Bauer was featured in an episode of the documentary series Nazi Megastructures in 2016, with an episode titled "Hitler's Killer Subs", which included the history of the design and construction of the Type XXI submarine.
Galleryedit
The four bow torpedo tubes on the submarine (Class 241)
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] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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.
External linksedit
Media related to German submarine Wilhelm Bauer at Wikimedia Commons
Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2540". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
(requires QuickTime VR software) (in German)
U-Boot Type XXI in detail, Essay with numerous photos of the Wilhelm Bauer attached.
. uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2006-12-05.
German submarine Wilhelm Bauer at Wikipedia's sister projects:
Media from Commons
March 14, 2024
german, submarine, wilhelm, bauer, originally, designated, 2540, type, boat, nazi, germany, navy, kriegsmarine, completed, shortly, before, world, scuttled, having, never, gone, patrol, 1957, raised, from, seabed, flensburg, firth, refurbished, recommissioned,. German submarine Wilhelm Bauer originally designated U 2540 is a Type XXI U boat of Nazi Germany s navy Kriegsmarine completed shortly before the end of World War II It was scuttled at the end of the war having never gone on patrol In 1957 it was raised from the seabed off Flensburg Firth refurbished and recommissioned for use by the West German Bundesmarine in 1960 Finally retired fully in 1983 it is the only floating example of a Type XXI U boat It has been modified to appear in wartime configuration and exhibited at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven Germany 2 Wilhelm Bauer U 2540 at the Maritime Museum 2013 HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 2540Ordered6 November 1943BuilderBlohm amp Voss HamburgYard number2540Laid down28 October 1944Launched13 January 1945Commissioned24 February 1945FateScuttled on 4 May 1945 Raised in June 1957West GermanyNameWilhelm BauerNamesakeWilhelm BauerCommissioned1 September 1960Decommissioned28 August 1968In serviceMay 1970Out of service15 March 1982FateMuseum ship on 27 April 1984General characteristicsClass and typeType XXI submarineDisplacement1 621 t 1 595 long tons surfaced 2 100 t 2 067 long tons submergedLength76 70 m 251 ft 8 in o a Beam8 m 26 ft 3 in Height11 30 m 37 ft 1 in Draught6 32 m 20 ft 9 in PropulsionDiesel Electric 2 MAN M6V40 46KBB supercharged 6 cylinder diesel engines 4 000 PS 2 900 kW 3 900 shp 2 SSW GU365 30 double acting electric motors 5 000 PS 3 700 kW 4 900 shp 2 SSW GV232 28 silent running electric motors 226 PS 166 kW 223 shp SpeedSurfaced 15 6 knots 28 9 km h 18 0 mph diesel 17 9 knots 33 2 km h 20 6 mph electric Submerged 17 2 knots 31 9 km h 19 8 mph electric 6 1 knots 11 3 km h 7 0 mph silent running motors Range15 500 nmi 28 700 km 17 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 340 nmi 630 km 390 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph submergedTest depth240 m 790 ft Complement5 officers 52 enlistedSensors and processing systemsType F432 D2 Radar Transmitter FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar DetectorArmament6 bow torpedo tubes 23 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes or 17 torpedoes and 12 mines 4 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunsService record Kriegsmarine Part of 31st U boat Flotilla 24 February 4 May 1945Identification codes M 52 062Commanders Oblt z S Rudolf Schultze 1 24 February 4 May 1945Operations NoneVictories None Contents 1 Design 2 Construction and wartime service 3 Salvage refit and new service 4 Conversion to museum ship 5 In popular culture 6 Gallery 7 Other surviving U boats 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksDesign editLike all Type XXI U boats U 2540 had a displacement of 1 621 tonnes 1 595 long tons when at the surface and 2 100 tonnes 2 067 long tons while submerged She had a total length of 76 70 m 251 ft 8 in a beam of 8 m 26 ft 3 in and a draught of 6 32 m 20 ft 9 in 3 The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six cylinder M6V40 46KBB diesel engines each providing 4 000 metric horsepower 2 900 kilowatts 3 900 shaft horsepower two Siemens Schuckert GU365 30 double acting electric motors each providing 5 000 PS 3 700 kW 4 900 shp and two Siemens Schuckert silent running GV232 28 electric motors each providing 226 PS 166 kW 223 shp 3 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15 6 knots 28 9 km h 18 0 mph and a submerged speed of 17 2 knots 31 9 km h 19 8 mph When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6 1 knots 11 3 km h 7 0 mph When submerged the boat could operate at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph for 340 nautical miles 630 km 390 mi when surfaced she could travel 15 500 nautical miles 28 700 km 17 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph 3 U 2540 was fitted with six 53 3 cm 21 0 in torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns She could carry twenty three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines The complement was five officers and fifty two men 3 Construction and wartime service editConstruction of U 2540 began on 28 October 1944 by Blohm amp Voss in Hamburg Finkenwerder She was launched on 13 January 1945 and commissioned on 24 February 1945 as part of the 31st U boat Flotilla for training purposes In April 1945 the boat went to the front after training at Ronne on Bornholm Due to the ongoing fuel shortages at the end of the war the boat was relocated to Swinemunde before being scuttled near the Flensburg lightship on 4 May 1945 Salvage refit and new service editIn June 1957 after more than 12 years on the floor of the Baltic Sea U 2540 was raised and overhauled at Howaldtswerke Kiel The submarine was commissioned as a research vessel in the Bundesmarine serving from 1 September 1960 until 28 August 1968 as a test boat class 241 On relaunch she was renamed Wilhelm Bauer after the designer of the first German U boat Brandtaucher built in Kiel by August Howaldt in 1850 From May 1970 she again entered service this time with a civilian crew and served as a testbed for the technical innovations of the class 206 U boat After an underwater collision with the German destroyer Z 3 D172 on 6 May 1980 Wilhelm Bauer was discharged from use at Eckernforde on 18 November 1980 and finally released from service in 1983 Conversion to museum ship editU 2540 was put on sale by the Ministry of Defence and acquired by the board of trustees of the German Maritime Museum Association and the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven The boat was restored to its original World War II configuration after its transfer in August 1983 to the Seebeck yard opening on 27 April 1984 as a museum ship in Bremerhaven now sponsored by the Wilhelm Bauer Technology Museum association It has imitation twin 30mm cannon and the bridge is not glazed as it was during service with the Bundesmarine In popular culture editWhilhem Bauer was featured in an episode of the documentary series Nazi Megastructures in 2016 with an episode titled Hitler s Killer Subs which included the history of the design and construction of the Type XXI submarine Gallery edit nbsp The four bow torpedo tubes on the submarine Class 241 nbsp Wilhelm Bauer in Bremerhaven 2002 nbsp With fresh paint in 2011 nbsp Wilhelm Bauer panoramic viewOther surviving U boats editSM U 1 U 505 U 534 U 995References edit Helgason Gudmundur Rudolf Schultze German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 23 April 2016 Gordon Williamson 2002 Kriegsmarine U boats 1939 45 841763640 ISBN 9781780966618 a b c d Groner 1991 p 85 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 in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help 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 External links edit nbsp Media related to German submarine Wilhelm Bauer at Wikimedia Commons Helgason Gudmundur U 2540 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 20 April 2016 A tour of the submarine requires QuickTime VR software in German U Boot Type XXI in detail Essay with numerous photos of the Wilhelm Bauer attached U 2540 gallery uboat net Archived from the original on 2006 12 05 53 32 29 N 8 34 40 E 53 54139 N 8 57778 E 53 54139 8 57778 German submarine Wilhelm Bauer at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine Wilhelm Bauer amp oldid 1204024287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
