German submarine U-1405

German submarine U-1405 was a Type XVIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. She was one of a small number of U-boats fitted with Hellmuth Walter's high test peroxide propulsion system, which offered a combination of air-independent propulsion and high submerged speeds.[4]

U-1406, a vessel of the same class as U-1405
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1405
Ordered4 January 1943
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number255
Laid down15 October 1943
Launched1 December 1944
Commissioned21 December 1944
FateScuttled on 5 May 1945, later broken up
General characteristics [1][2]
Class and typeType XVIIB submarine
Displacement
  • 312 t (307 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 337 t (332 long tons) (submerged)
  • 415 t (408 long tons) (total)
Length
Beam
  • 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in) o/a
  • 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in) pressure hull
Draught4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
Installed power
  • 210 PS (210 shp; 150 kW) (surface diesel drive)
  • 77 PS (76 shp; 57 kW) (submerged electric drive)
  • 2,500 PS (2,500 shp; 1,800 kW) (submerged HTP drive)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) (surface diesel drive)
  • 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged electric drive)
  • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) (submerged HTP drive)
Range
  • 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surface diesel drive)
  • 76 nmi (141 km; 87 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) (submerged electric drive)
  • 123 nmi (228 km; 142 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) (submerged HTP drive)
Test depth150 m (490 ft)
Capacity
  • 20.2 t (45,000 lb) (fuel oil)
  • 52 t (115,000 lb) (H
    2    O
    2    )
Complement19
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations: None
Victories: None

The U-1405 was laid down on 15 October 1943 at the Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 255. She was launched on 1 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Wilhelm Rex on 21 December 1944.[4]

Design

When completed, U-1405 was 41.45 metres (136 ft) long overall, with a beam of 4.50 metres (14 ft 9 in) and a draught of 4.3 metres (14 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 337 long tons (342 t) submerged. The submarine was powered by one Deutz SAA 8M517 supercharged 8-cylinder diesel engine producing a total of 210–230 metric horsepower (150–170 kW; 210–230 shp) for use while surfaced and one Walter gas turbine producing a total of 2,500 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,500 shp) for use while submerged. She had one shaft and one propeller. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) using the HTP drive. When submerged, the U-boat could operate for 123 nautical miles (228 km; 142 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) on her HTP system and when surfaced, she could travel 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[5]

The submarine was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (All fitted at the bow) and four torpedoes. The boat had a complement of 19 men.[5]

Service history

U-1405 did not undertake any war patrols and was instead assigned as a training boat at first to the 8th U-boat Flotilla, followed by the 5th U-boat Flotilla.[4]

The U-1405 was scuttled on 5 May 1945 in Eckernförde Bay during Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was later raised and broken up.[4]

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Walter Boats Type XVIIB Small Coastal Research vessels". Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. "German Experimental U-Boats Types III, IV, V, VI, VIII, XI, XII, XIII, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXII, VB.60, V.80, U-791 and Deschimag". www.sharkhunters.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Wilhelm Rex". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur (1995). "U-1405". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. Hofmann, Markus (24 October 2010). "XVII_B". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 14 April 2016.

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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1405". Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

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