| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-1223 |
| Ordered | 25 August 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft AG,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 386 |
| Laid down | 25 November 1942 |
| Launched | 23 June 1943 |
| Commissioned | 6 October 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 14 April 1945 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 5 May 1945 in position53°32′N8°35′E / 53.533°N 8.583°E /53.533; 8.583[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type IXC/40submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 53 099 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: |
|
German submarineU-1223 was aType IXC/40U-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the originalType IXCs.U-1223 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), apressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), abeam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by twoMAN M 9 V 40/46supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinderdiesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, twoSiemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 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 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-1223 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22torpedoes, one10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 as well as two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of forty-eight.[2]
U-1223 was ordered on 25 August 1941 fromDeutsche Werft inHamburg-Finkenwerder under theyard number 386. Her keel waslaid down on 25 November 1942 and waslaunched the following year on 23 June 1943. About three months later she wascommissioned into service under the command ofKapitänleutnant Harald Bosüner (Crew 35) on 6 October 1943 in the4th U-boat Flotilla.
While working up for deployment,U-1223 Bosüner was relieved and handed over command toOberleutnant zur See Albert Kneip (Crew X/39) in March 1944. After completing training, the U-boat transferred to the2nd U-boat Flotilla and left Kiel for the West Atlantic on 28 August 1944 for her first and only patrol. Stopping briefly inBergen, Norway, for replenishment, she operated off the Canadian coast, damagingHMCS Magog on 14 October 1944 and the British steamerFort Thompson on 2 November.Magog was towed back to port, but declared a constructive loss and decommissioned.
U-1223 arrived back inKristiansand on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1944, and continued her journey toFlensburg, where she arrived three days later. Having been transferred to the33rd U-boat Flotilla, she left Flensburg again forKönigsberg on 5 January 1945, arriving there on the tenth. The U-boat experienced technical problems in the end of January 1945 and had to be towed intoStettin. From there she travelled under tow ofU-1108 toWesermünde, where she was decommissioned on 15 April 1945. Most of her crew was ordered to form a tank destroyer unit inNeustadt in Holstein under the command of the first watch officer.
When British forces closed in on the port, the U-boat was scuttled in position53°32′N8°35′E / 53.533°N 8.583°E /53.533; 8.583 on 5 May 1945. Her wreck was laterbroken up for scrap.[1]
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1944 | HMCS Magog |  Royal Canadian Navy | 1,370 | Total loss |
| 2 November 1944 | Fort Thompson |  United Kingdom | 7,134 | Damaged |
