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.
 U-9, a typical Type IIB boat
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-13 |
| Ordered | 2 February 1935 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 248 |
| Laid down | 20 June 1935 |
| Launched | 9 November 1935 |
| Commissioned | 30 November 1935 |
| Fate | Sunk 31 May 1940, in the North Sea. 26 survivors |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IIB coastal submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Complement | 3 officers, 22 men |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 15 421 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
Design
editGerman 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.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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.[1]
Fate
editU-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 by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. There were no casualties.
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 1939 | Magdapur |  United Kingdom
|
8,641 | Sunk (mine) |
| 16 September 1939 | City of Paris | United Kingdom
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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
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8,317 | Damaged (mine) |
| 31 January 1940 | Start |  Norway
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1,168 | Sunk |
| 1 February 1940 | Fram |  Sweden
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2,491 | Sunk |
| 6 February 1940 | Anu |  Estonia
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1,421 | Sunk (mine) |
| 17 April 1940 | Swainby | United Kingdom
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4,935 | Sunk |
| 26 April 1940 | Lily |  Denmark
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1,281 | Sunk |
| 28 April 1940 | Scottish American | United Kingdom
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6,999 | Damaged |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-13". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
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.
- 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 IIB boat U-13". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 13". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- "U-boat Archive – U-boat KTB – U-13's 2nd War Patrol". Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2017.