German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-868 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 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 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-868 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 as well as two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[2]
Service history
In her operations, she sank a single warship, the 672 tons HMS Guysborough on 17 March 1945.
Fate
U-868 was surrendered by her captain on 9 May 1945 at Bergen in Norway. She was then transferred to Loch Ryan 30 May 1945 for Operation Deadlight,[1] where a large number of U-boats were sunk in one operation. U-868 was sunk on 30 November 1945 during operation.[1][3]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Operation Deadlight - Fates". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-868". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
Bibliography
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). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-868". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, second, world, ship, ordered, august, 1941, laid, down, march, 1943, launched, august, 1943, bremen, germany, commanders, over, operational, lifespan, period, from, december, 1943, until, july, 1944, . German submarine U 868 was a Type IXC 40 U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine in the Second World War The ship was ordered on 25 August 1941 and laid down on 11 March 1943 She was launched on 18 August 1943 at Bremen Germany She had two commanders over her operational lifespan for the period from 23 December 1943 until 21 July 1944 it was Kapitanleutnant Dietrich Rauch then Oberleutnant zur See Eduard Turre for the period from 22 July 1944 until 9 May 1945 1 HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 868Ordered25 August 1941BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser BremenYard number1076Laid down11 March 1943Launched18 August 1943Commissioned23 December 1943FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945 Sunk on 30 November 1945 during Operation DeadlightGeneral characteristicsClass and typeType IXC 40 submarineDisplacement1 144 t 1 126 long tons surfaced 1 257 t 1 237 long tons submergedLength76 76 m 251 ft 10 in o a 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in pressure hullBeam6 86 m 22 ft 6 in o a 4 44 m 14 ft 7 in pressure hullHeight9 6 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 67 m 15 ft 4 in Installed power4 400 PS 3 200 kW 4 300 bhp diesels 1 000 PS 740 kW 990 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed19 knots 35 km h 22 mph surfaced 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph submergedRange13 850 nmi 25 650 km 15 940 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 63 nmi 117 km 72 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Complement4 officers 44 enlistedArmament6 torpedo tubes four bow two stern 22 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes 1 10 5 cm 4 1 in SK C 32 deck gun 180 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService recordPart of 4th U boat Flotilla 23 December 1943 31 July 1944 2nd U boat Flotilla 1 August 30 September 1944 33rd U boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 5 May 1945Commanders Kptlt Dietrich Rauch 23 December 1943 21 July 1944 Oblt z S Eduard Turre 22 July 1944 9 May 1945Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 21 January 18 February 1945 2nd patrol a 14 March 10 April 1945 b 14 17 April 1945Victories 1 warship sunk 672 tons Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type IXC 40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs U 868 had a displacement of 1 144 tonnes 1 126 long tons when at the surface and 1 257 tonnes 1 237 long tons while submerged 2 The U boat had a total length of 76 76 m 251 ft 10 in a pressure hull length of 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in a beam of 6 86 m 22 ft 6 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 67 m 15 ft 4 in The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40 46 supercharged four stroke nine cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4 400 metric horsepower 3 240 kW 4 340 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 92 m 6 ft propellers The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres 750 ft 2 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18 3 knots 33 9 km h 21 1 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph 2 When submerged the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles 117 km 72 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 13 850 nautical miles 25 650 km 15 940 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 868 was fitted with six 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and two at the stern 22 torpedoes one 10 5 cm 4 13 in SK C 32 naval gun 180 rounds and a 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 as well as two twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of forty eight 2 Service history EditIn her operations she sank a single warship the 672 tons HMS Guysborough on 17 March 1945 Fate Edit U 868 was surrendered by her captain on 9 May 1945 at Bergen in Norway She was then transferred to Loch Ryan 30 May 1945 for Operation Deadlight 1 where a large number of U boats were sunk in one operation U 868 was sunk on 30 November 1945 during operation 1 3 Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 4 17 March 1945 HMCS Guysborough Royal Canadian Navy 672 SunkReferences EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit a b c Helgason Gudmundur The Type XIC 40 boat U 868 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 31 January 2015 a b c d Groner 1991 p 68 Helgason Gudmundur Operation Deadlight Fates German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 December 2014 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 868 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 13 February 2014 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 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type IXC 40 boat U 868 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 868 amp oldid 1080942749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
