German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-850 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.[2] 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-850 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.[2]
Service historyedit
The U-boat was ordered on 20 January 1941 and laid down at the DESCHIMAGAG Weser shipyard on 17 March 1942. Assigned yard number 1056, she was launched on 7 December of that year. Commissioned on 17 April 1943 under the command of KorvettenkapitänKlaus Ewerth (Crew 25), who had previously commanded U-26. U-850 served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla until the end of October when she transferred to the 12th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service. U-850 left Kiel on 18 November 1943 destined for the Indian Ocean in order to join Monsoon Group,[3] she was, however, spotted and successfully attacked by US aircraft from USS Bogue west of Madeira on 20 December.
Fateedit
On 20 December 1943, while en route to the Indian Ocean, U-850 was spotted by aircraft of Squadron VC-19. The first aircraft, an Avenger piloted by Lieutenant W.A. La Fleur, attacked the U-boat with depth charges which missed their target. After La Fleur reported the sighting via radio, two Wildcats accompanied by two more Avengers - T18 and T19 - arrived on the scene. While the Wildcats strafed U-850, T19, piloted by Ensign G.C. Goodwin, made another attack with depth charges which hit their target. The U-boat tried to evade by crash diving, but T18, piloted by Lieutenant H.G. Bradshaw, dropped two FIDO torpedoes, which both hit the U-boat on the starboard side. USS George E. Badger and Du Pont later recovered some bodies, body parts, and pieces of wreckage. There were no survivors.[4]
Successesedit
U-850 did not sink or damage any ships while in service.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1997). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Die deutschen U-Boot-Kommandanten (in German). Vol. II. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0509-6.
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: 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.
Gröner, Eric; 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.
Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Die deutschen U-Boot-Kommandanten
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-850". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
April 11, 2024
german, submarine, long, range, type, ixd2, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, historynazi, germanynameu, 850ordered20, january, 1941builderdeschimag, weser, bremenyard, number1056laid, down17, march, 1942launched7, december, 1942commissi. German submarine U 850 was a long range Type IXD2 U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 850Ordered20 January 1941BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser BremenYard number1056Laid down17 March 1942Launched7 December 1942Commissioned17 April 1943FateSunk west of Madeira on 20 December 1943 by US aircraft in position 32 54 N 37 1 W 32 900 N 37 017 W 32 900 37 017General characteristicsClass and typeType IXD2 submarineDisplacement1 610 t 1 580 long tons surfaced 1 799 t 1 771 long tons submergedLength87 58 m 287 ft 4 in o a 68 50 m 224 ft 9 in pressure hullBeam7 50 m 24 ft 7 in o a 4 40 m 14 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight10 20 m 33 ft 6 in Draught5 35 m 17 ft 7 in Installed power9 000 PS 6 620 kW 8 880 bhp diesels 1 000 PS 740 kW 990 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed20 8 knots 38 5 km h 23 9 mph surfaced 6 9 knots 12 8 km h 7 9 mph submergedRange12 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Complement66Armament6 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow two stern 24 torpedoes or 48 TMA or 72 TMB naval mines 1 SK L 45 Utof deck gun 150 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 2 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService recordPart of 4th U boat Flotilla 17 April 31 October 1943 12th U boat Flotilla 1 November 20 December 1943 1 Identification codes M 41 858Commanders K Kapt F Kapt Kapt z S Klaus Ewerth 17 April 20 December 1943Operations 1 patrol 18 November 20 December 1943Victories None Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 3 Fate 4 Successes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign editGerman Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs U 850 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 850 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 2 Service history editThe U boat was ordered on 20 January 1941 and laid down at the DESCHIMAG AG Weser shipyard on 17 March 1942 Assigned yard number 1056 she was launched on 7 December of that year Commissioned on 17 April 1943 under the command of Korvettenkapitan Klaus Ewerth Crew 25 who had previously commanded U 26 U 850 served with the 4th U boat Flotilla until the end of October when she transferred to the 12th U boat Flotilla for front line service U 850 left Kiel on 18 November 1943 destined for the Indian Ocean in order to join Monsoon Group 3 she was however spotted and successfully attacked by US aircraft from USS Bogue west of Madeira on 20 December Fate editOn 20 December 1943 while en route to the Indian Ocean U 850 was spotted by aircraft of Squadron VC 19 The first aircraft an Avenger piloted by Lieutenant W A La Fleur attacked the U boat with depth charges which missed their target After La Fleur reported the sighting via radio two Wildcats accompanied by two more Avengers T18 and T19 arrived on the scene While the Wildcats strafed U 850 T19 piloted by Ensign G C Goodwin made another attack with depth charges which hit their target The U boat tried to evade by crash diving but T18 piloted by Lieutenant H G Bradshaw dropped two FIDO torpedoes which both hit the U boat on the starboard side USS George E Badger and Du Pont later recovered some bodies body parts and pieces of wreckage There were no survivors 4 Successes editU 850 did not sink or damage any ships while in service References edit Busch amp Roll 1997 p 384 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 74 75 Busch amp Roll 1997 p 528 Busch amp Roll 1999 p 180 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1997 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 Die deutschen U Boot Kommandanten in German Vol II Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0509 6 Busch 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 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 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 Groner Eric 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 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 Die deutschen U Boot Kommandanten Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Great Britain Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links editHelgason Gudmundur U 850 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 6 January 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 850 amp oldid 1217211354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
