German submarine U-2 (1935)

German submarine U-2 was a Type IIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down 11 February 1935 by Deutsche Werke of Kiel as yard number 237; she was launched on 1 July and commissioned on 25 July 1935 with Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Hermann Michahelles in command.[3]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-2.

U-2 in Kiel, in 1935
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-2
Ordered2 February 1935
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Cost1,500,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁
Yard number237
Laid down11 February 1935[1]
Launched1 July 1935
Commissioned25 July 1935
Stricken9 April 1944
FateSunk after a collision west of Pillau, 8 April 1944[2]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IIA coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 254 t (250 long tons) surfaced
  • 303 t (298 long tons) submerged
  • 381 t (375 long tons) total
Length
Beam
  • 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draught3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 shp) (diesels)
  • 360 PS (260 kW; 360 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 1,050 nmi (1,940 km; 1,210 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement3 officers, 22 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • U-boat School Flotilla
  • 1 July 1935 – 1 August 1939
  • 1 September 1939 – 1 February 1940
  • 1 March 1940 – 1 April 1940
  • 1 May 1940 – 30 June 1940
  • 21st U-boat Flotilla
  • 1 July 1940 – 8 April 1944
Identification codes: M 27 610
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hermann Michahelles
  • 25 July 1935 – 30 September 1936
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Liebe
  • 1 October 1936 – 31 January 1938
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert Schultze
  • 31 January – 16 March 1938
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Helmut Rosenbaum
  • 17 March 1939 – 5 August 1940
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Heidtmann
  • 7 July – 5 August 1940 (deputy)
  • Kptlt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff
  • 6 August – October 1941
  • Karl Kölzer
  • October 1941 – 15 May 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Schwaff
  • 16 May – 19 November 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Herglotz
  • 20 November – 12 December 1943[3]
  • Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Schwarzkopf
  • 13 December 1943 – 8 April 1944
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 15 – 29 March 1940
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 4 – 15 April 1940
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged

Design

German Type II submarines were based on the Finnish submarine Vesikko. U-2 had a displacement of 254 tonnes (250 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 40.90 m (134 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 27.80 m (91 ft 2 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and a draught of 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 360 metric horsepower (260 kW; 360 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-2 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.[4]

Service history

She had several commanders over her long career. Michahelles was relieved on 30 September 1936, by Kapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Heinrich Liebe. Liebe turned command over on 31 January 1938 to Oblt.z.S. Herbert Schultze. On 16 March 1939, Kptlt. Helmut Rosenbaum assumed command and on 7 July 1940, Oblt.z.S. Hans Heidtmann joined Rosenbaum as deputy commander. On 6 August 1940, Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf relieved Rosenbaum and Heidtmann and commanded until October 1941 when Karl Kölzer took over. On 16 May 1942, Oblt.z.S. Werner Schwaff relieved Kölzer, and on 20 November 1942, was relieved by Oblt.z.S. Helmut Herglotz. On 12 December 1943, Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Schwarzkopf took over and commanded the boat until she was lost.[5]

She was used as a school boat and trainer for her entire career except for two completely uneventful combat patrols in early 1940.[5]

Fate

U-2 suffered no casualties to any of her numerous crews until 8 April 1944 when she collided with the German steam trawler Helmi Söhle[Note 1] west of Pillau (today's Baltiysk, Russia) and sank. 17 of her crew were killed; 18 survived. The wreck was raised the next day and stricken.

References
  1. Rössler 1979, p. 99.
  2. Busch & Röll 1999b, p. 215.
  3. Busch & Röll 1999a, p. 283.
  4. Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
  5. "U-2". uboat.net. Retrieved 4 March 2020.

Notes
  1. Gröner names the vessel involved in the collision as Hinrich Freese, which according to other sources had already sunk on 16 November 1940 .

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999a). 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 (1999b). 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.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkrieges, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935 - 1945. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IIA boat U-2". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 2". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.

54.800°N 19.917°E / 54.800; 19.917

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