German submarine U-2548

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2548
Ordered	6 November 1943
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	2548
Laid down	30 November 1944
Launched	9 March 1945
Commissioned	9 April 1945
Fate	Scuttled on 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Type XXI submarine
Displacement	1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced; 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged;
Length	76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a); 60.50 m (198 ft 6 in) (p/h);
Beam	8 m (26 ft 3 in) (o/a); 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) (p/h);
Height	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Installed power	4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) (diesel drive); 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) (standard electric drive); 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp) (silent electric drive);
Propulsion	Diesel/Electric; 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines ; 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors ; 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors;
Speed	Surfaced:; 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel); 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric); Submerged:; 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric); 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors);
Range	15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged;
Test depth	280 m (920 ft)
Complement	57–60 crewmen
Sensors and ; processing systems	Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter; FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector;
Armament	6 × bow torpedo tubes; 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × TMC mines); 4 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA guns or; 4 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns;
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla; 9 April – 3 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 53 122
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Karl-Ernst Utischill; 9 April – 3 May 1945;
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-2548 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 30 November 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2548. She was launched on 9 March 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Ernst Utischill on 9 April 1945.^[2]

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2548 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).^[3] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).^[3] U-2548 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.^[3]

Fate

U-2548 was scuttled on 3 May 1945, at Kiel as part of Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was later raised and broken up.^[2]

References

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Karl-Ernst Utischill". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2548". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, p. 85.

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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (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.