 U-2 in Kiel, in 1935 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-2 |
| Ordered | 2 February 1935 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke,Kiel |
| Cost | 1,500,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁ |
| Yard number | 237 |
| Laid down | 11 February 1935[1] |
| Launched | 1 July 1935 |
| Commissioned | 25 July 1935 |
| Stricken | 9 April 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk after a collision west ofPillau, 8 April 1944[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type IIA coastal submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 3.83 m (12 ft 7 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 27 610 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | No ships sunk or damaged |
German submarineU-2 was aType IIAU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine. Her keel waslaid down 11 February 1935 byDeutsche Werke ofKiel as yard number 237; she waslaunched on 1 July andcommissioned on 25 July 1935 withOberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Hermann Michahelles in command.[3]
German Type II submarines were based on theFinnish 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 (254 t), however.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 40.90 m (134 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 27.80 m (91 ft 2 in), abeam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and adraught of 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoMWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinderdiesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, and twoSiemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36double-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 U-boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[4]
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).[4] 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, fivetorpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of 25.[4]
She had several commanders over her long career. Michahelles was relieved on 30 September 1936, byKapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Heinrich Liebe. Liebe turned command over on 31 January 1938 toOblt.z.S. Herbert Schultze. On 16 March 1939,Kptlt.Helmut Rosenbaum assumed command and on 7 July 1940,Oblt.z.S. Hans Heidtmann joined Rosenbaum as deputy commander. On 6 August 1940, Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf relieved Rosenbaum and Heidtmann and commanded until October 1941 when Karl Kölzer took over. On 16 May 1942,Oblt.z.S. Werner Schwaff relieved Kölzer, and on 20 November 1942, was relieved byOblt.z.S. Helmut Herglotz. On 12 December 1943,Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Schwarzkopf took over and commanded the boat until she was lost.[5]
She was used as a school boat and trainer for her entire career except for two completely uneventful combat patrols in early 1940.[5]
U-2 suffered no casualties to any of her numerous crews until 8 April 1944 when she collided with the German steamtrawlerHelmi Söhle[Note 1] west ofPillau (today's Baltiysk, Russia) and sank. 17 of her crew were killed; 18 survived. The wreck was raised the next day and stricken.
54°48′00″N19°55′01″E / 54.800°N 19.917°E /54.800; 19.917
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1944 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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