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German Type XVII submarine

U-1406.jpg
Type XVIIB submarine U-1406, partially dismantled shortly after the end of World War II
Class overview
Builders:
Operators:
Built: 1943 -1944
In commission: 1944 -1949
Planned: 17
Completed: 7
Cancelled: 10
General characteristics
Class and type: Submarine
Displacement:
  • Type XVIIA
  • Wa 201 :
    • 277 tonnes (273 long tons) surfaced
    • 309 t (304 long tons) submerged
    • 372 t (366 long tons) total
  • Wk 202 :
    • 236 t (232 long tons) surfaced
    • 259 t (255 long tons) submerged
    • 312 t (307 long tons) total
  • Type XVIIB
    • 312 t (307 long tons) surfaced
    • 337 t (332 long tons) submerged
    • 415 t (408 long tons) total
Length:
  • Type XVIIA
  • Wa 201 :
  • Wk 202 :
    • 36.60 m (120 ft 1 in) o/a
  • Type XVIIB
    • 41.45 m (136 ft 0 in) o/a
    • 27.30 m (89 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam:
  • 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in) o/a
  • Type XVIIA Wa 201 & Type XVIIB :
    • 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in) pressure hull
  • Type XVIIA Wk 202 :
    • 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) pressure hull
Draft:
  • Type XVIIA Wa 201 & Type XVIIB :
    • 4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
  • Type XVIIA Wk 202 :
    • 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × Deutz SAA SM517 supercharged 8-cylinder Diesel engine, 210 PS (210 shp; 150 kW)
  • 1 × AEG Maschine AWT98 electric motor, 77 PS (76 shp; 57 kW)
  • 1 shaft
  • Type XVIIA Wa 201 U-792 & Wk 202 :
    • 2 × Walter gas turbines, 5,000 PS (4,900 shp; 3,700 kW)
  • Type XVIIA Wa 201 U-793 & Type XVIIB :
    • 1 × Walter gas turbine, 2,500 PS (2,500 shp; 1,800 kW)
Speed:
  • Type XVIIA
    • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) surfaced
    • 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged (electric drive)
    • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged (HTP drive)
  • Type XVIIB
    • 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) surfaced
    • 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged (electric drive)
    • 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged (HTP drive)
Range:
  • Type XVIIA, Wa 201 :
    • 2,910 nmi (5,390 km; 3,350 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) surfaced
    • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged (electric drive)
    • 127 nmi (235 km; 146 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged (HTP drive)
  • Wk 202 :
    • 1,840 nmi (3,410 km; 2,120 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) surfaced
    • 76 nmi (141 km; 87 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged (electric drive)
    • 117 nmi (217 km; 135 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged (HTP drive)
  • Type XVIIB
    • 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
    • 76 nmi (141 km; 87 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged (electric drive)
    • 123 nmi (228 km; 142 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged (HTP drive)
Complement:
  • Type XVIIA : 12
  • Type XVIIB : 19
Armament:

The Type XVII U-boats were small coastal submarines that used Hellmuth Walter's high-test peroxide propulsion system, which offered a combination of air-independent propulsion and high submerged speeds.

In the early 1930s Hellmuth Walter had designed a small, high-speed submarine with a streamlined form propelled by high-test peroxide (HTP) and in 1939 he was awarded a contract to build an experimental vessel, the 80 ton V-80, which achieved an underwater speed of 28.1 knots (52.0 km/h; 32.3 mph) during trials in 1940. In November 1940 Admirals Erich Raeder and Werner Fuchs (head of the Kriegsmarine's Construction Office) witnessed a demonstration of the V-80; Raeder was impressed, but Fuchs was slow to approve further tests.

Following the success of the V-80's trials, Walter contacted Karl Dönitz in January 1942, who enthusiastically embraced the idea and requested that these submarines be developed as quickly as possible. An initial order was placed in summer 1942 for four Type XVIIA development submarines.

Of these, U-792 and U-793, designated Wa 201, were built by Blohm + Voss, commissioned in October 1943, and achieved 20.25 kn (37.50 km/h; 23.30 mph) submerged. The other pair of Type XVIIA submarines, U-794 and U-795, designated Wk 202, were constructed by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel, and commissioned in April 1944.

The U-793 achieved a submerged speed of 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) in March 1944 with Admiral Dönitz aboard. In June 1944 U-792 achieved 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph) over a measured mile.


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