German submarine U-15 (1936)
The German submarine U-15 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was commissioned on 21 September 1936 with Kapitänleutnant Peter Frahm in command.
Service History:
U-15 primarily served in a training role during the early part of the war, assigned to various Unterseebootsflottillen (U-boat Flotillas) for the purpose of training new U-boat crews. These Flotillas included the U-Bootschulflottille and the 1st U-boat Flotilla.
Fate:
On 30 January 1940, while on patrol in the North Sea, U-15 was rammed and sunk by the British light cruiser HMS Cleopatra. All 49 members of her crew perished. The incident occurred near the Moray Firth, Scotland.
Specifications (Type IIB U-boat):
- Displacement: 254 tons surfaced, 303 tons submerged
- Length: 42.7 meters (140 ft 1 in)
- Beam: 4.08 meters (13 ft 5 in)
- Draft: 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in)
- Propulsion: Two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines with a total of 700 PS (515 kW; 690 shp) for surface running, and two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors with a total of 410 PS (302 kW; 404 shp) for submerged running.
- Speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced, 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
- Range: 1,600 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced, 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
- Test Depth: 80 meters (260 ft)
- Armament: Five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (all forward), five torpedoes, 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun
Commanders:
- September 1936 - October 1937: Kapitänleutnant Peter Frahm
- October 1937 - November 1938: Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Buchholz
- November 1938 - December 1939: Oberleutnant zur See Günter Praetorius
- December 1939 - January 1940: Oberleutnant zur See Paul Friedemann
See also:
- U-boat
- Type II submarine