Type IX
Type IX A
U 37 to U 44 = 8 U-boats
This U-boat type was developed as a dubble-hull unit on the basis of U 81 of the Iperial German Navy (1915) and Kriegsmarine Type I A.
Year of construction |
1936 to 1939 |
Shipyard |
AG Weser at Bremen |
Displacement |
1,032 t/ 1,152 t submerged |
Length |
76.5 m |
Beam |
6.5 m |
Draught |
4.7 m |
Propulsion |
2 Diesel engines, 2 electric engines, 2 propellers |
Engine power |
4,400 HP/ 1,000 HP submerged |
Speed |
18.2 kn/ 7.7 kn submerged |
Range |
8,100 nmi at 12 kn/ 65 nmi at 4 kn submerged |
Diving depth |
230 m |
Fuel |
154 cbm |
Armament |
4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes, 22 torpedoes or 14 torpedoes and up to 42 mines, 1 x 10.5 cm, 1 x 3.7 cm guns, later 4 x 2 cm twin mounts |
Complement |
48 – later more |
Type IX B
U 64, U 65, U 103 to U 111, U 122 to U 124 = 14 U-boats
The U-boat was a further development of Type IX A to accommodate several improvements.
Year of construction |
1937 to 1940 |
Shipyard |
AG Weser at Bremen |
Displacement |
1.051 t/ 1.178 t submerged |
Length |
76.5 m |
Beam |
6.8 m |
Draught |
4.7 m |
Propulsion |
2 Diesel engines, 2 electric engines, 2 propellers |
Engine power |
4,400 HP/ 1,000 HP submerged |
Speed |
18.2 kn/ 7.7 kn submerged |
Range |
8,700 nmi at 12 kn/ 64 nmi at 4 kn submerged |
Diving depth |
230 m |
Fuel |
165 cbm |
Armament |
4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes, 22 torpedoes or 14 torpedoes and to zu 42 |
Complement |
48 – later more |
Type IX C and IX C/40
U 66 to U 68/ U 125 to U 131/ U 153 to U 176/ U 183 to U 194/ U 501 to U 550/ U 801 to
U 806/ U 841 to U 846/ U 853 to U 858/ U 865 to U 870/ U 877 to U 881/ U 889/ U 1221 to U 1235= 140 U-boats
This U-boat type was a further development of Type IX A, respectively IX B with enlarged conning tower. It was later fittet with a snorkel.
Year of construction |
1940 to 1944 |
Shipyard |
U 66 to U 68/ U 125 to U 131/ U 153 to U 160/ U 171 to U 176/ U 183 to U 194/ U 841 to U 846/ U 853 to U 858/ U 865 to U 870/ U 877 to U 881/ U 889 at AG Weser at Bremen, U 161 to U 170/ U 801 to U 806 at Seebeck at Wesermünde, U 501 to U 550/ U 1221 to U 1235 at Deutsche Werft at Hamburg |
Displacement |
IX C = 1.120 t/ 1.232 t submerged, IX C/40 = 1.144 t/ 1.257 t submerged |
Length |
76.5 m |
Beam |
6.8 m |
Draught |
4.7 m |
Propulsion |
2 Diesel engines, 2 electric engines, 2 propellers |
Engine power |
4,400 HP/ 1,000 HP submerged |
Speed |
IX C = 18,2 kn/ 7,7 kn submerged, IX C/40 = 18,3 kn/ 7,3 kn submerged |
Range |
11.000 nmi at 12 kn/ 63 nmi at 4 kn submerged |
Diving depth |
230 m |
Fuel |
208 cbm |
Armament |
4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes, 22 torpedoes or to zu 42 mines, 1 x 10.5 cm, 1 x 3.7 cm guns, later twin 4×2 cm , U 162 to U 170 and U 505 to U 550 had no minelaying capacity |
Complement |
48 – later mehr |
Type IX D 1
U 180 and U 195 = 2 U-boats
This U-boat Type was built as a particular powerful combat unit by extending the pressure hull´s length while maintaining it´s diameter. Initially these two units were equipped with two sets of three side-by-side Daimler Benz 20 cylinder diesel Engines ( same as in German Fast Attack Crafts) and a Vulcan gearbox generating 9,000 HP for 20.8 kn surfaced. 1943 the U-boats were refitted with standard diesel engines to serve as a fuel supply unit.
Year of construction |
1940 to 1942 |
Shipyard |
AG Weser at Bremen |
Displacement |
1,610 t/ 1,804 t submerged |
Length |
87.6 m |
Beam |
7.5 m |
Draught |
5.4 m |
Propulsion |
2 Diesel engines, 2 electric engines, 2 propellers |
Engine power |
4,400 HP/ 1,000 HP submerged, after refitting: 2,800 HP/ 1,110 HP submerged |
Speed |
20.8 kn/ 6.9 kn submerged, after refitting = 15.8 kn/ 6.9 kn submerged |
Range |
23,700 nmi at 12 kn/ 57 nmi at 4 kn submerged/ after refitting: 9,900 nmi at 12 kn/ 115 nmi at 4 kn submerged |
Diving depth |
230 m |
Fuel |
203 cbm plus 253 cbm Treibstoff für Fremdversorgung |
Armament |
4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes or up to 39 mines, 1 x 10.5 cm, 1 x 3.7 cm guns, later twin 4 x 2 cm, after refitting no torpedo tubes and no minelaying capacity any longer |
Complement |
57 – later more |
Type IX D 2
U 177 to U 179/ U 181 and U 182/ U 196 to U 200/ U 847 to U 852/ U 859 to U 864/ U 871 to U 876/ U 883 = 29 U-boats
These were combat units for long range operations in the Indian Ocean and Far East. It was fitted wth two Diesel generators with 1.00 HP additionally which could be operated together with the two main engines during diesel-electric mode of operation providing for a very long ranhe that could reach up to 31,500 nmi at 10 kn. Therefore these U-boats were able to circumnavigate the Earth without refuelling.
Year of construction |
1940 to 1944 |
Shipyard |
AG Weser at Bremen |
Displacement |
1,610 t/ 1,804 t submerged |
Length |
87.6 m |
Beam |
7.5 m |
Draught |
5.4 m |
Propulsion |
2 Diesel engines plus 2 Dieselgeneratoren, 2 electric engines, 2 propellers |
Engine power |
4,400 HP/ 1,000 HP submerged |
Speed |
19.2 kn/ 6.9 kn submerged |
Range |
23,700 nmi at 12 kn/ 57 nmi at 4 kn submerged |
Diving depth |
230 m |
Fuel |
441 cbm |
Armament |
4 bow and 2 stern torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes or up to 39 mines, 1 x 10.5 cm, 1 x 3.7 cm guns, later only 1x 3.7 cm plus 2 x 2 cm twins |
Complement |
57 – later more |