Type XVII

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U 793 at Hamburg

Type XVII
U 791 (not completed), U 792 and U 793 (both: Type Wa 201), U 794 and U 795 (both: Type
Wk 202) not fully completed, however, all boats were commissioned = 4 U-boats.

These boats were so-called Walter-research-boats. They were developed as true submarines ( in contrast to the older U-boat types which were submersibles) and could maintain a relatively high submerged speed for brief periods of time.

Year of construction

1942 to 1944

Shipyard

U 792 and U 793 (Typ Wa 201) at Blohm & Voss at Hamburg

U 794 and U 795 (Typ Wk 202) at Germaniawerft at Kiel

Displacement

277 t/ 309 t submerged (Wa 201), 236 t/ 259 t submerged (Wk 202)

Length

39.0 m (Wa 201), 34.6 m (Wk 202)

Beam

3.4 m (Wa 201 und Wk 202)

Draught

4.3 m (Wa 201), 4.5 m (Wk 202)

Propulsion

1 Diesel engine, 2 Walter-Turbines, 1 electric engine, 1 propeller

Engine Power

210 HP/ 78 HP submerged, with Walter-turbines up to  5,000 HP

Speed

9.0 kn/ 3.5 kn submerged, mit with Walter-turbines up to 25 kn

Range

2,910 nmi at 8.5 kn (Wa 201), 1,840 nmi at 9 kn (Wk 202)/ 50 nmi at 2 kn, with Walter-turbines 127 nmi at 20 kn submerged (Wa 201), 76 nmi at 2 kn,
with Walter-turbines 117 nmi at 20 kn submerged (Wk 202)

Diving depth

150 m

Fuel

14 cbm plus 40 cbm Walter-Fuel (hydrogene peroxide)

Armament

2 bow torpedo tubes, 4 torpedoes, no FlaK

Complement

12
U 1407 under the White Ensign after the war.

Type XVII B
U 1405 to U 1407 = 3 U-boats fully completed and commissioned.
Walter-research-boats with further improvements.

Year of construction

1943 to 1945

Shipyard

Blohm & Voss in Hamburg

Displacement

312 to/ 337 to submerged

Length

41.5 m

Beam

4.5 m

Draught

4.3 m

Propulsion

1 Diesel engine, 2 Walter-Turbines, 1 electric engine, 1 propeller

Engine Power

210 HP/ 77,5 HP submerged, with Walter-turbines up to 2,500 HP

Speed

8.5 kn/ 5 kn submerged, with Walter-turbines up to 25 kn

Range

3,000 nmi at 8 kn/ 76 nmi at 2 kn, with Walter-turbines: 123 nm at 25 kn submerged

Diving depth

150 m

Fuel

20 cbm plus 52 cbm Walter-Fuel (hydrogene peroxide)

Armament

2 bow torpedo tubes, 4 torpedoes, no FlaK

Complement

19