| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-1200 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Schichau-Werke,Danzig |
| Yard number | 1570 |
| Laid down | 17 April 1943 |
| Launched | 4 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 5 January 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk on or about 12 November 1944[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 42 508 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-1200 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine which saw service during theSecond World War.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-1200 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-1200 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
U-1200 keel waslaid down 17 April 1943, byF. Schichau, ofDanzig. She wascommissioned 5 January 1944 under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Hinrich Mangels.[3]
She was assigned to8th U-boat Flotilla for training, before joining11th U-boat Flotilla in Norway for operational service.
Her first war patrol, on 7 October 1944, was cut short with mechanical difficulties; she returned toBergen on 17 October. Two days later on 19 October she set out again for her patrol area in theSouth-Western Approaches, south of Ireland.
U-1200 was sunk on or about 12 November 1944 in theEnglish Channel south-east of Start Point by unknown cause. All hands lost.[1]
On the night of 10 November 1944, 60 miles (97 km) south ofCape Clear, Ireland, she encountered units of theRoyal Navy's 30 Escort Group. These were fourCastle-classcorvettes,HMS Pevensey Castle,HMS Kenilworth Castle,HMS Launceston Castle andHMS Portchester Castle, led byCdr.Denys Rayner. Mistaking the group, which was engaged in a slow sweep of its patrol area, for a small convoy,U-1200 attempted to stalk the group, steering on a converging course. In a swift and well-executed attack, the ships of 30 EG rounded on the U-boat and destroyed her in one depth-charge attack. There were no survivors.[4][5][6]
