German submarine U-3506

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-3506
Ordered6 November 1943
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1651
Laid down14 July 1944
Launched28 August 1944
Commissioned16 October 1944
HomeportDanzig
IdentificationM 46 726
FateBuried in Elbe II U-boat pens in Hamburg
General characteristics
Class and typeType XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,100 t (2,067 long tons) submerged
Length76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
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 depth240 m (790 ft)
Complement5 officers, 52 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 46 726
Commanders:
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-3506 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboote submarine was laid down on 14 July 1944 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 28 August 1944, and commissioned on 16 October 1944 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Thäter.[1]

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-3506 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), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[2] 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).[2]

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).[2] U-3506 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.[2]

Service history

U-3506 undertook no war patrols, with no ships sunk or damaged, remaining as a training vessel for the duration of the war.[1] U-3506 was one of three Type XXI boats (along with U-2505 and U-3004) that were scuttled in the Elbe II U-boat bunker.[3] The bunker has since been filled in with gravel, although even that did not initially deter many souvenir hunters who measured the position of open hatches and dug down to them to allow the removal of artifacts.[4] The boat now lies beneath a car park and she and the other wrecks are completely inaccessible. The site is located in the Free Port of Hamburg and in order to access it one must present a passport.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-3506". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 85.
  3. ^ Parken, Oliver (17 January 2024). "How Entombed U-boats Were Re-discovered Decades After WWII". The War Zone. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ Hitler's U-boat Bases (2002), Jak P Mallmann Showell, Sutton Publishing ISBN 0-7509-2606-6
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "- Type XXI U-boats in Elbe II bunker in Hamburg". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2010.

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.