German submarine U-148 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 10 April 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 277. She was launched on 16 November 1940 and commissioned on 28 December with Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Radke in command.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-148 |
| Ordered | 25 September 1939 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 277 |
| Laid down | 10 April 1940 |
| Launched | 16 November 1940 |
| Commissioned | 28 December 1940 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IID coastal submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Complement | 3 officers, 22 men |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 02 030 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
U-148 began her service life with the 24th U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 21st flotilla and subsequently to the 31st flotilla. She spent the war as a training vessel.
She was scuttled on 5 May 1945.
Design
editGerman Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-148 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254 t), however.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 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 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 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).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph).[2] 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-148 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.[2]
Fate
editThe boat was scuttled in the Raederschleuse (lock) at Wilhelmshaven on 5 May 1945. The wreck was broken up on an unknown date.
References
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-148". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net uboat.net. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
Bibliography
edit- 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.
External links
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-148". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 148". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.