German submarine UD-4

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History
Nazi Germany
NameUD-4
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Laid down20 April 1939
Launched23 Novovember 1940
Commissioned28 January 1941
Decommissioned19 March 1945
FateScuttled 3 May 1945
General characteristics [1]
Class and type O 21-class submarine
Displacement
  • 990 tons surfaced
  • 1205 tons submerged
Length77.70 m (254 ft 11 in)
Beam6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
Draught3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 2,500 PS (2,466 bhp; 1,839 kW) diesel engines
  • 2 × 500 PS (493 bhp; 368 kW) electric motors
Range
  • 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) submerged
Complement39
Armament
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 21 in stern torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 21 in (1×2) external-traversing TT amidships

UD-4 was an O 21-class submarine. The boat was laid down as the Dutch submarine K XXVI and renamed O 26 but was captured during German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II and commissioned in the Kriegsmarine.

Ship history[]

The submarine was ordered on 24 June 1938 and laid down on 20 April 1939 as K XXVI at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam. During construction she was renamed O 26. Following the German invasion of 10 May 1940, the not yet launched O 26 was captured at the yard by the invading forces.[2]

The Germans decided to complete her. The launch took place on 23 November 1940. She served in the Kriegsmarine as UD-4 and was commissioned on 28 January 1941,[2] with Helmut Brümmer-Patzig in command.[3]

From January to April 1941 UD-4 served as school boat in Kiel when attached to the 1st Flotilla. In May she was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla also in Kiel where she was used as a trial boat. She remained there until July that year. August 1941 the boat was transferred to the 5th Flotilla also in Kiel where she was used as a school boat until December 1942. In January 1943 UD-4 was transferred to Gotenhafen where she served as a school boat for 24th Flotilla and 27th Flotilla until January 1945. From January to March 1945 she was based in Hela and transferred to the 18th Flotilla where she served as a school boat.[2]

19 March 1945 UD-4 was decommissioned and on 3 May 1945 the boat was scuttled in Kiel.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Dutch Submarines: The O 21 submarine class". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dutch Submarines: The submarine O 26". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. ^ Busch & Röll 1999, p. 41.

Bibliography[]

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-186-8.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-593-7.
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