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U118 June, 12, 1943

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
U116		615	Germaniawerft, Kiel	7.1939	3.5.1941	7.1941	sunk 15.10.1942
U117		616	Germaniawerft, Kiel	7.1939	26.7.1941	10.1941	sunk 7.8.1943
U118		617	Germaniawerft, Kiel	3.1940	23.9.1941	12.1941	sunk 12.6.1943
U119		624	Germaniawerft, Kiel	5.1940	6.1.1942	4.1942	sunk 24.6.1943
U219		625	Germaniawerft, Kiel	5.1941	6.10.1942	12.1942	captured by Japan 6.5.1945 (伊505 [I505])
U220		626	Germaniawerft, Kiel	6.1941	16.1.1943	3.1943	sunk 28.10.1943
U233		663	Germaniawerft, Kiel	8.1941	8.5.1943	9.1943	sunk 5.7.1944
U234		664	Germaniawerft, Kiel	10.1941	23.12.1943	3.1944	surrendered 5.1945, to USA, sunk as target 20.11.1947

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	1763 / 2177
Length, m	89.8
Breadth, m	9.20
Draught, m	4.71
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Germania diesels / 2 AEG electric motors
Power, h. p.	4200 - 4800 / 1100
Max speed, kts	16.4 - 17 / 7
Fuel, t	diesel oil 338
Endurance, nm(kts)	18450(10) / 93(4)
Armament	1 x 1 - 105/42 SK C/32, 1 x 1 - 37/80 SK C/30, 1 x 1 - 20/65 C/38, 2 - 533 TT (stern, 15), 66 mines U233, 234: 1 x 1 - 37/69 FlaK M/42, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38, 2 - 533 TT (stern, 15), 66 mines
Electronic equipment	completed 1941-1942: S-Gerät sonar, GHG hydrophone completed 1942-1943: FuMO 30 radar, S-Gerät sonar, GHG hydrophone, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite completed 1943-1944: FuMO 30 radar, GHG hydrophone, FuMB 3 Bali, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites
Complement	52
Diving depth operational, m	100

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Unique series of German submarines, specially designed as minelayers and unlike usual boats should use not TMA and TMB ground mines, laid through torpedo tubes, but heavy moored mines of SMA type. Design of 2500t submarine minelayer of XA series was turned down by submarine fleet command. Boats of XB series became as though its decreased copy, but, nevertheless, were the largest submarines built in Germany in days of the Second World War.

Double-hulled; maximal diving depth was 150m. Mines took places in 30 vertical tubes, 6 from which were in a bow compartment on centre line, and remaining placed in four groups between pressure and outer hull. Besides mines submarines had 2 stern TT and carried 15 torpedoes (inc 11 out of a pressure hull). In 1943 survived boats received snorkels. They were practically not used as minelayers and served mainly as suppliers.

Modernizations

1942-1943, most survived early built: + FuMO 30 radar, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite

1943 - 1944, most survived were rearmed with artillery consisted of 1 x 1 - 37/69 FlaK M/42, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38

1943-1944, most survived early built: - S-Gerät sonar, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite; + FuMB 3 Bali, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites

1944-1945, some survived: - FuMO 30 radar; + FuMO 61 radar

Naval service

U116 after 15.10.1942 was lost by unknown cause in Atlantic or Bay of Biscay. U117 was sunk 7.8.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-1 sqn from escort carrier Card NW off Azores. U118 was sunk 12.6.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-9 sqn from escort carrier Bogue SW off Azores. U119 was sunk 24.6.1943 by British sloop Starling NW off coast of Spain.

U219 was captured by Japanese troops at Djakarta 6.5.1945, commissioned by IJN as I505; surrendered and scuttled by British in February, 1946. U220 was sunk 28.10.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-1 sqn from escort carrier Block Island in Northern Atlantic. U233 was sunk 5.7.1944 by American escort destroyers Baker and Thomas SE off Halifax. U234 was transferred on reparations to the USA and sunk on manoeuvres 20.11.1947.

1943