German submarine U-1232

U-1232 was a Type IX U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-1232
Ordered: 14 October 1941
Builder: Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg
Yard number: 395
Laid down: 14 April 1943
Launched: 20 December 1943
Commissioned: 8 March 1944
Out of service: April 1945 at Wesermünde, Germany
Fate: Sunk on 4 March 1946
Notes: Foundered and sunk while being towed to scuttling grounds.
General characteristics
Class and type: Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a
  • 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam:
  • 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a
  • 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 13,850 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) submerged
Complement: 4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Commanders:
  • Kapt. z. S. Kurt Dobratz
  • 8 March 1944 - 31 March 1945[1]
  • Oblt.z.S. Götz Roth
  • 1–27 April 1945[1]

Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-1232 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-1232 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

She made one offensive patrol, from November 1944 to February 1945, to North America. On 14 January 1945, the boat torpedoed and sank three ships within 13 minutes near Halifax Harbour off the Atlantic coast of Canada.[3][4] During this action she was damaged so severely that she was forced to return to base.

Fate

In May 1945 the British military captured U-1232 at Wesermünde, Germany. On 4 March 1946 the boat sank at 54°11′N 07°24′E after she foundered whilst being towed to the scuttling grounds.[1]

Summary of raiding history
Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[5]
4 January 1945 Nipiwan Park  Canada 2,373 Damaged
4 January 1945 Polarland  Norway 1,591 Sunk
14 January 1945 Athelviking  United Kingdom 8,779 Sunk
14 January 1945 British Freedom  United Kingdom 6,985 Sunk
14 January 1945 Martin Van Buren  United States 7,176 Total loss
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References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-1232". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  2. Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  3. "Athelviking". Shipwrecks of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  4. Rainault, Jared. "S.S. British Freedom". Darryls Diving Services On-Line Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1232". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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