German submarine U-825

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-825
Ordered	8 June 1942
Builder	Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number	1588
Laid down	19 July 1943
Launched	16 February 1944
Commissioned	4 May 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll; Sunk on 3 January 1946 during Operation Deadlight;
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
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);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern); 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun ; 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 4 May – 30 November 1944; 11th U-boat Flotilla; 1 December 1944 – 8 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 19 192
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Gerhard Stoelker; 4 May 1944 – 13 May 1945;
Operations:	2 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 29 December 1944 – 18 February 1945; 2nd patrol:; 1 April – 13 May 1945;
Victories:	1 merchant ship damaged ; (7,198 GRT); 1 merchant ship total loss ; (8,262 GRT);

German submarine U-825 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 July 1943 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1588, launched on 16 February 1944 and commissioned on 4 May 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Stoelker.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-825 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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-825 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 8th Flotilla on 4 May 1944, followed by active service on 1 December 1944 as part of the 11th Flotilla.

Wolfpacks

U-825 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

U-825 surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll. She was then sunk on 3 January 1946 at 55°31′N 07°30′W / 55.517°N 7.500°W / 55.517; -7.500 as part of Operation Deadlight.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[3]
27 January 1945	Solør	Norway	8,262	Total loss
27 January 1945	Ruben Dario	United States	7,198	Damaged

References

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gerhard Stoelker". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-825". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

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.
Gröner, Eric; 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.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.