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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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German Submarine U-13 (1935)

German submarine U-13 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which was commissioned on 30 November 1936, following construction at the Deutsche Werke shipyards at Kiel. The first commander on board was Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen. In her career she completed nine patrols, all while serving with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. The U-boat succeeded in sinking nine ships and damaging three more.

Design

German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-13 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 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 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-13 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 twentyfive.

Fate

U-13 was sunk on 31 May 1940, in the North Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south-east of Lowestoft, in position 52°26′N 02°02′E / 52.433°N 2.033°E / 52.433; 2.033 by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. There were no casualties.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate
10 September 1939 Magdapur  United Kingdom 8,641 Sunk (mine)
16 September 1939 City of Paris  United Kingdom 10,902 Damaged (mine)
24 September 1939 Phryné  France 2,660 Sunk (mine)
30 October 1939 Cairnmona  United Kingdom 4,666 Sunk
19 November 1939 Bowling  United Kingdom 793 Sunk
6 January 1940 City of Marseilles  United Kingdom 8,317 Damaged (mine)
31 January 1940 Start  Norway 1,168 Sunk
1 February 1940 Fram  Sweden 2,491 Sunk
6 February 1940 Anu  Estonia 1,421 Sunk (mine)
17 April 1940 Swainby  United Kingdom 4,935 Sunk
26 April 1940 Lily  Denmark 1,281 Sunk
28 April 1940 Scottish American  United Kingdom 6,999 Damaged

References

  1. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-13". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.

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.
  • 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.