| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-222 |
| Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft,Kiel |
| Yard number | 652 |
| Laid down | 16 June 1941 |
| Launched | 28 March 1942 |
| Commissioned | 23 May 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk in a collision, 2 September 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| 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 00 832 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German Submarine U-222 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
She waslaid down at the F. Krupp Germaniawerft yard inKiel as yard number 652 on 16 June 1941,launched on 28 March 1942 andcommissioned on 23 May underOberleutnant zur See Ralf von Jessen. She was part of the8th U-boat Flotilla, a training organization.
She was lost on 2 September 1942 after a collision withU-626 in the Baltic. 42 men died; there were three survivors.[1]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-222 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 460/8-276double-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-222 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, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]