German submarine U-13 (1935)
German submarine U-13 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which was commissioned on 30 November 1936, following construction at the Deutsche Werke shipyards at Kiel. The first commander on board was Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen. In her career she completed nine patrols, all while serving with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. The U-boat succeeded in sinking nine ships and damaging three more.
U-9, a typical Type IIB boat | |
History | |
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Name: | U-13 |
Ordered: | 2 February 1935 |
Builder: | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
Yard number: | 248 |
Laid down: | 20 June 1935 |
Launched: | 9 November 1935 |
Commissioned: | 30 November 1935 |
Fate: | Sunk 31 May 1940, in the North Sea. 26 survivors |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | IIB coastal submarine |
Displacement: |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
Draught: | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
Installed power: |
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Propulsion: |
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Range: |
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Test depth: | 80 m (260 ft) |
Complement: | 3 officers, 22 men |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
Part of: | |
Identification codes: | M 15 421 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: | Nine |
Victories: |
Design
German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-13 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[1] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 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 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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).[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-13 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 twentyfive.[1]
Fate
U-13 was sunk on 31 May 1940, in the North Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south-east of Lowestoft, in position 52°26′N 02°02′E by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. There were no casualties.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 September 1939 | Magdapur | 8,641 | Sunk (mine) | |
16 September 1939 | City of Paris | 10,902 | Damaged (mine) | |
24 September 1939 | Phryné | 2,660 | Sunk (mine) | |
30 October 1939 | Cairnmona | 4,666 | Sunk | |
19 November 1939 | Bowling | 793 | Sunk | |
6 January 1940 | City of Marseilles | 8,317 | Damaged (mine) | |
31 January 1940 | Start | 1,168 | Sunk | |
1 February 1940 | Fram | 2,491 | Sunk | |
6 February 1940 | Anu | 1,421 | Sunk (mine) | |
17 April 1940 | Swainby | 4,935 | Sunk | |
26 April 1940 | Lily | 1,281 | Sunk | |
28 April 1940 | Scottish American | 6,999 | Damaged |
See also
References
- Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-13". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
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)
- 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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IIB boat U-13". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 13". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- "U-boat Archive - U-boat KTB - U-13's 2nd War Patrol". Retrieved 13 April 2017.