German submarine UD-5

HNLMS O 27 in 1949
History
Netherlands
NameHNLMS O 27
Ordered8 July 1938
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Laid down3 August 1939
FateIncomplete, captured by German on 14 May 1940
Nazi Germany
NameUD-5
Launched26 September 1941
Commissioned30 January 1942
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945, returned to the Dutch Navy
Netherlands
NameHNLMS O 27
Commissioned13 July 1945
Stricken14 November 1959
FateBroken up in 1961
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeO 21-class submarine
Displacement
  • 990 tons surfaced
  • 1205 tons submerged
Length77.70 m (254 ft 11 in)
Beam6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
Draught3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range
  • 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) submerged
Complement39
Armament
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 21 in stern torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 21 in (1×2) external-traversing TT amidships
Service record as UD-5[2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 36 894
Commanders:
  • F.Kapt. / Kapt.z.S. Bruno Mahn[3]
  • 1 November 1941 – 12 January 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Klaus-Dietrich König (acting)[4]
  • 16 December 1942 – 9 January 1943
  • Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke[5]
  • 13 January – 22 February 1943
  • Kptlt. Hans-Ulrich Scheltz[6]
  • 23 February 1943 – 9 May 1945
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(7,628 GRT)

UD-5 was an O 21-class submarine. The boat was laid down as the Dutch submarine HNLMS K XXVII and renamed HNLMS O 27 but was captured during the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II and commissioned in the Kriegsmarine. The ship survived the war and was returned to the Netherlands where she served under her old name until 1959.

Ship history

The submarine was ordered on 8 July 1938 and laid down on 3 August 1939 as K XXVII at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam. During construction she was renamed O 27. Following the German invasion of 10 May 1940, the not yet launched O 27 was captured at the yard by the invading forces.[7]

The Germans decided to complete her. The launch took place on 26 September 1941. She served in the Kriegsmarine as UD-5 and was commissioned on 30 January 1942.[7][2]

From November 1941 to August 1942, UD-5 served as training boat in Kiel when attached to the 5th Flotilla. From August 1942 until January 1943, the boat was stationed at Lorient in occupied France and attached to the 10th Flotilla.[7]

When patrolling west of Freetown, UD-5 spotted and sunk the 7,628 GRT British freighter Primrose Hill on 29 October 1942.[7]

In January 1943, the boat was transferred to Bergen in occupied Norway and attached to the U-boot Abwehr Schule to be used as school boat until May 1945. UD-5 surrendered on 9 May 1945. UD-5 was planned to be scuttled as part of Operation Deadlight but was recognized as a former Dutch boat and was returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy. On 13 July 1945, she was commissioned in the Dutch Navy as O 27.[7]

She served in the Dutch navy until she was stricken on 14 November 1959. She was stationed in Den Helder where she served as torpedo trial boat, piggy boat and training vessel. In 1961, she was broken up.[7]

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[3]
29 October 1942 Primrose Hill  United Kingdom 7,628 Sunk

References

  1. ^ "Dutch Submarines: The O 21 submarine class". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Foreign U-boats UD-5". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Bruno Mahn". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Klaus-Dietrich König". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Horst-Tessen von Kameke". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans-Ulrich Scheltz". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Dutch Submarines: The submarine O 27". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.

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 978-1-55750-186-8.
  • 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 978-0-85177-593-7.