German submarine U-1228

German submarine U-1228 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-1228 surrenders at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (USA) on 17 May 1945
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-1228
Ordered	14 October 1941
Builder	Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg
Yard number	391
Laid down	16 February 1943
Launched	2 October 1943
Commissioned	22 December 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 17 May 1945 Sunk on 5 February 1946 by US warships in position 42°32′N 69°37′W
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement	1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power	4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels) 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range	13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 x twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 22 December 1943 – 31 July 1944 2nd U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 31 October 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 – 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 55 286
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Friedrich-Wilhelm Marienfeld 22 December 1943 – 17 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 11 – 15 September 1944 b. 17 – 20 September 1944 2nd patrol: a. 12 October – 29 December 1944 b. 31 December 1944 – 4 January 1945 c. 1 – 3 April 1945 d. 9 – 11 April 1945 3rd patrol: 14 April – 17 May 1945
Victories:	1 warship sunk (900 tons)

Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-1228 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-1228 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 as well as two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history

U-1228 was ordered on 14 October 1941 from Deutsche Werft in Hamburg-Finkenwerder under the yard number 391. Her keel was laid down on 16 February 1943 and the U-boat was launched on 2 October. About three months later she was commissioned into service under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Wilhelm Marienfeld (Crew X/38) in the 31st U-boat Flotilla on 22 December 1943.

After work-up for deployment, U-1228 transferred to the 2nd U-boat Flotilla and left Kiel for the West Atlantic on 5 September 1944 for her first and only patrol. Stopping briefly in Bergen, Norway, for replenishment, she experienced engine troubles in the Norwegian Sea and had to return to port. She set off again on 12 October from Bergen and operated south of Nova Scotia sinking one warship, HMCS Shawinigan.

She returned to Bergen on 28 December 1944 and continued her journey to Flensburg the same day. On 17 January 1945, she arrived in Wesermünde where she spent the next two months in the yard. U-1228 set out again on 1 April 1945 for operations in the West Atlantic. After the surrender of Germany, the U-boat made for the closest Allied port and surrendered to US forces in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 17 May 1945.

In August 1945 U-1228 was awarded to the United States and after being tested, she was sunk by USS Sirago on 5 February 1946 in position 42°32′N 69°37′W.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
25 November 1944	HMCS Shawinigan	Royal Canadian Navy	900	Sunk

References

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). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.