 U-9, a typical Type IIB boat | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-15 |
| Ordered | 2 February 1935 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke,Kiel |
| Yard number | 250 |
| Laid down | 24 September 1935 |
| Launched | 15 February 1936 |
| Commissioned | 7 March 1936 |
| Fate | Sunk 30 January 1940[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type IIB coastal submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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 06 991 |
| Commanders |
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| Operations |
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| Victories | 3 merchant ships sunk (4,532 GRT) |
German submarineU-15 was aType IIBU-boat of theKriegsmarine. It wascommissioned on 7 March 1936, following construction at theDeutsche Werke shipyards atKiel. Its first commander wasWerner von Schmidt. In its career, it completed five patrols, all while serving under the1st U-boat Flotilla. It sank three ships.
German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the originalType IIs.U-15 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), apressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 in), abeam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and adraught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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, twoSiemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36double-acting electric motors producing a total of 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 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).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).U-15 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 twentyfive.[2]
On 30 January 1940,U-15 was sunk in theNorth Sea in theHoofden, after being rammed by accident by the Germantorpedo boatIltis. 25 men died; there were no survivors.[1]
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 1939 | Goodwood |  United Kingdom | 2,796 | Sunk |
| 21 October 1939 | Orsa | United Kingdom | 1,478 | Sunk |
| 28 December 1939 | Resercho | United Kingdom | 258 | Sunk |
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in January 1940 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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