German submarine U-19 (1935)

U-19 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 15 February 1935 at Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 235, launched on 30 October 1935 and commissioned on 16 November 1935 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Meckel.

Service History: U-19 served primarily in a training role early in the war, operating within the U-boat school (U-Bootschule). As the war progressed, she was deployed on several combat patrols, mainly in the North Sea and off the coast of Great Britain. She participated in minelaying operations.

Commanders: U-19 had several commanders throughout her service, including Hans Meckel, Günter Prien (briefly), Viktor Schütze, and others. The command roster changed frequently, particularly during the early years.

Fate: U-19 was scuttled on 11 September 1944 at Constanța to prevent her capture by advancing Soviet forces. The crew was subsequently taken prisoner. The wreck remains at the bottom of the Black Sea.

Type IIB U-boat Characteristics: The Type IIB U-boats were small, coastal submarines intended for short-range operations. They displaced around 279 tons surfaced and 328 tons submerged. They were armed with torpedoes and often carried mines. Their small size and limited range made them less capable in open ocean operations than larger U-boat types.

Notable Events: While U-19 did not achieve spectacular combat success compared to some other U-boats, she was involved in numerous patrols and contributed to the German war effort. Her most notable contribution was arguably training future U-boat crews during the critical early years of the war.