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Type IX U-boat

The Type IX U-boat was designed by Germany in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. It was derived from the Type IA, and appeared in various sub-types.

Type IXs had six torpedo tubes, four at the bow and two at the stern. They carried six reloads internally and had five external torpedo containers (three at the stern and two at the bow) which stored ten additional torpedoes. The total of 22 torpedoes allowed U-boat commanders to follow a convoy and strike night after night. As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, but many of the IXC boats were not fitted for mine operations.

Secondary armament was provided by one large Utof 105/45 gun with about 110 rounds. Antiaircraft armament differed throughout the war. They had two periscopes in the tower. Types IXA and IXB had an additional periscope in the control room, which was deleted in Type IXC and afterward.

Type IXA

Eight Type IXA U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.

U-37 - U-38 - U-39 - U-40 - U-41 - U-42 - U-43 - U-123 under the command of Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, and U-107 out of Freetown, Africa under the command of Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war over with close to 100,000 t sunk.

14 Type IXB U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.

U-64 - U-65 - U-103 - U-104 - U-105 - U-106 - U-107 - U-108 - U-109 - U-110 - U-111 - U-122 - U-123 - U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 (35 boats), were not fitted for mine operations.

One carries the designation of being the only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, U-166.

The U-505 is still in existence, and is located the the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, although as of 2004 it is being renovated.

54 of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.

U-66 - U-67 - U-68 - U-125 - U-126 - U-127 - U-128 - U-129 - U-130 - U-131 - U-153 - U-154 - U-155 - U-156 - U-157 - U-158 - U-159 - U-160 - U-161 - U-162 - U-163 - U-164 - U-165 - U-166 - U-171 - U-172 - U-173 - U-174 - U-175 - U-176 - U-501 - U-502 - U-503 - U-504 - U-505 - U-506 - U-507 - U-508 - U-509 - U-510 - U-511 - U-512 - U-513 - U-514 - U-515 - U-516 - U-517 - U-518 - U-519 - U-520 - U-521 - U-522 - U-523 - AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.

U-167 - U-168 - U-169 - U-170 - U-183 - U-184 - U-185 - U-186 - U-187 - U-188 - U-189 - U-190 - U-191 - U-192 - U-193 - U-194 - U-525 - U-526 - U-527 - U-528 - U-529 - U-530 - U-531 - U-532 - U-533 - U-534 - U-535 - U-536 - U-537 - U-538 - U-539 - U-540 - U-541 - U-542 - U-543 - U-544 - U-545 - U-546 - U-547 - U-548 - U-549 - U-550 - U-801 - U-802 - U-803 - U-804 - U-805 - U-806 - U-841 - U-842 - U-843 - U-844 - U-845 - U-846 - U-853 - U-854 - U-855 - U-856 - U-857 - U-858 - U-865 - U-866 - U-867 - U-868 - U-869 - U-870 - U-877 - U-878 - U-879 - U-880 - U-881 - U-889 - U-1221 - U-1222 - U-1223 - U-1224 - U-1225 - U-1226 - U-1227 - U-1228 - U-1229 - U-1230 - U-1231 - U-1232 - U-1233 - U-1234 - 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from the IXD boats and they converted for transport use. In their new role the could transport 252 t of freight.

30 Type IXD U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen. U-177 - U-178 - U-179 - U-180 - U-181 - U-182 - U-195 - U-196 - U-197 - U-198 - U-199 - U-200 - U-847 - U-848 - U-849 - U-850 - U-851 - U-852 - U-859 - U-860 - U-861 - U-862 - U-863 - U-864 - U-871 - U-872 - U-873 - U-874 - U-875 - U-876

Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built AG Weser of Bremen, but only one was commissioned.

U-883 was launched on April 28, 1944 and commissioned March 27, 1945. Her career ended in Operation Deadlight.

U-884 was launched on May 17, 1944 but was badly damaged on March 30, 1945 by US bombs while still in dockyard hands. U-885, U-886 U-887, and U-888 were laid down but construction halted on September 30, 1943 when all IXD/42 contracts were cancelled.

General characteristics

• Displacement: surfaced 1610 t, submerged 1799 t, total 2150 t
• Length: overall 87.6 m, pressure hull 68.5 m
• Beam: overall 7.5 m, pressure hull 4.4 m
• Draft: 5.4 m
• Height: 10.2 m
• Power: surfaced 4400 horsepower (3,300 kW), submerged 1000 horsepower (746 kW)
• Speed: surfaced 20.8 knots, submerged 6.9 knots
• Range: surfaced 20,400 km (12,750 miles) at 10 knots, submerged 185 km (115 miles) at 4 knots
• Torpedoes: 24 (4 bow, 2 stern tubes)
• Deck gun: Utof 105/45 with 150 rounds
• Crew: 55-63 men
• Max depth: 230m (750 feet)