German submarine U-226

"U-226" redirects here. For the isotope of uranium (U-226 or 226U), see Uranium-226.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-226
Ordered15 August 1940[1]
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel[1]
Yard number656[1]
Laid down1 August 1941[1]
Launched18 June 1942[1]
Commissioned1 August 1942[1]
FateSunk by British warships on 6 November 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 12 559
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Rolf Borchers
  • 1 August 1942 – 26 July 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Albrecht Gänge
  • 26 July – 6 November 1943
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 31 December 1942 – 10 March 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 10 April – 17 May 1943
  • b. 28 – 30 September 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 5 October – 6 November 1943
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(7,134 GRT)

German submarine U-226 was a Type VIIC U-boat that served with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. Laid down on 1 August 1941 as yard number 656 at F. Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel, she was launched on 18 June 1942 and commissioned on 1 August under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albrecht Gänge.

She began her service career in training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 6th flotilla on 1 January 1943.

The boat was a member of eleven wolfpacks. She carried out three patrols and sank one ship.

She was sunk by British warships on 6 November 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-226 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-226 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

First patrol

U-226 departed Kiel on 31 December 1942, heading for the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She sailed toward Newfoundland, southeast of Greenland. She arrived at Lorient in occupied France, on 17 May.

Second patrol

Having left Lorient on 10 April 1943, the boat encountered the Fort Rampart west of the Bay of Biscay on the 18th. The ship had already been attacked by U-628. U-226 finished the merchantman off with a 'coup de grǎce' torpedo and gunfire and returned to France; this time to St. Nazaire.

Third patrol

Having left St. Nazaire for Brest, the boat departed the port in Brittany on 5 October. U-226 was attacked and sunk on 6 November by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Starling, Woodcock and Kite east of Newfoundland. Fifty-one men died, there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-226 took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely:

  • Falke (8 – 12 January 1943)
  • Habicht (10 – 19 January 1943)
  • Haudegen (19 January – 15 February 1943)
  • Sturmbock (24 – 26 February 1943)
  • Without name (15 – 18 April 1943)
  • Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
  • Fink (4 – 5 May 1943)
  • Siegfried (22 – 27 October 1943)
  • Siegfried 3 (27 – 30 October 1943)
  • Jahn (30 October – 2 November 1943)
  • Tirpitz 4 (2 – 6 November 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[4]
18 April 1943 Fort Rampart  United Kingdom 7,134 Sunk

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC Uboat U-226". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-226". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-226". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939–45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
  • 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.
  • 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. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • 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. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-226". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 226". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

44°49′N 41°13′W / 44.817°N 41.217°W / 44.817; -41.217