German submarine U-2 (1935)

U-2 in Kiel, in 1935
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-2
Ordered:	2 February 1935
Builder:	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Cost:	1,500,000 Reichsmark
Yard number:	237
Laid down:	11 February 1935
Launched:	1 June 1935
Commissioned:	25 June 1935
Struck:	9 April 1944
Fate:	Sunk after a collision west of Pillau, 8 April 1944
General characteristics
Class and type:	IIA coastal submarine
Displacement:	254 t (250 long tons) surfaced 303 t (298 long tons) submerged 381 t (375 long tons) total
Length:	40.90 m (134 ft 2 in) (o/a) 27.80 m (91 ft 2 in) (pressure hull)
Beam:	4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a) 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height:	8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draught:	3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Installed power:	700 PS (510 kW; 690 shp) (diesels) 360 PS (260 kW; 360 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 × propeller shafts 2 × 0.85 m (2 ft 9 in) three-bladed propellers 2 × diesel engines 2 × double-acting electric motors
Range:	1,050 nmi (1,940 km; 1,210 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	80 m (260 ft)
Complement:	3 officers, 22 men
Armament:	3 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 5 × torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB mines 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	Kriegsmarine U-Boat Training Flotilla 21st U-boat Flotilla
Identification codes:	M 27 610
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Hermann Michahelles 25 July 1935–30 September 1936 Kptlt. Heinrich Liebe 1 October 1936–31 January 1938 Oblt.z.S. Herbert Schultze 31 January–16 March 1938 Kptlt. Helmut Rosenbaum 17 March 1939–5 August 1940 Oblt.z.S. Hans Heidtmann 7 July–5 August 1940 (deputy) Kptlt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff 6 August–October 1941 Karl Kölzer October 1941–15 May 1942 Oblt.z.S. Werner Schwaff 16 May–19 November 1942 Oblt.z.S. Helmut Herglotz 20 November–12 December 1943
Operations:	Two: 1st patrol: 15–29 March 1940 2nd patrol: 4–8 April 1940
Victories:	No ships sunk or damaged

German submarine U-2 was a Type IIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down 11 February 1935 by Deutsche Werke of Kiel as yard number 237; she was launched on 1 July and commissioned on 25 July 1935 with Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Hermann Michahelles in command.

German Type II submarines were based on the Finnish submarine Vesikko. U-2 had a displacement of 254 tonnes (250 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 40.90 m (134 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 27.80 m (91 ft 2 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 3.83 m (12 ft 7 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 360 metric horsepower (260 kW; 360 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).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-2 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.