German submarine U-236

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-236
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number666
Laid down23 March 1942
Launched24 November 1942
Commissioned9 January 1943
FateScuttled on 5 May 1945
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
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 652
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Reimar Ziesmer
  • 9 January – 25 May 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Curt Hartmann
  • 29 September 1943 – 29 May 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Ludo Kreglin
  • 30 May – 4 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert Mumm
  • 5 June 1944 – 4 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-236 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 23 March 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 666, launched on 24 November and commissioned on 9 January 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Reimar Ziesmer.[1]

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, she spent the rest of the war as a 'school' boat. U-236 was transferred to the 24th flotilla on 29 September 1943, the 21st flotilla on 1 May 1944 and the 31st flotilla on 1 March 1945. She was scuttled near Schleimünde on 5 May 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-236 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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 460/8-276 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).[2]

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).[2] 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-236 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.[2]

She was the first Type VII submarine to experiment with a schnorchel in September 1943.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-236". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ van Herwijnen, C. (September 1998). "De snuiver (deel II)" (PDF). Klaar Voor Onderwater (in Dutch). No. 65. Den Helder: Onderzeedienst Reünistenvereniging. pp. 6–7.

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.
  • 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). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-236". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 236". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

54°37′N 10°03′E / 54.617°N 10.050°E / 54.617; 10.050