German submarine U-1102 facts for kids
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|} The U-1102was a Type VIIC U-boat, which is a type of submarine, used by Nazi Germany's navy (called the Kriegsmarine) during World War II. These submarines were very important in naval battles during the war.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-1102 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Nordseewerke, Emden |
| Yard number | 224 |
| Laid down | 16 April 1943 |
| Launched | 15 January 1944 |
| Commissioned | 22 February 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 12 May 1944 |
| Recommissioned | 15 August 1944 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | 864.7 t (851 long tons) submerged |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 44-57 crew |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
Building a Submarine
The U-1102 began construction on April 16, 1943. It was built at the Nordseewerke shipyard in Emden, Germany. The submarine was officially launched, meaning it touched water for the first time, on January 15, 1944. It was then put into service (commissioned) on February 22, 1944. Its first commander was Bernhard Schwarting.
When finished, the U-1102 was about 67 meters (220 feet) long. That's almost as long as two basketball courts! It was 6.18 meters (20 feet) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. When fully underwater, it weighed about 864.7 tons.
How it Moved
The submarine had two powerful diesel engines for moving on the surface of the water. These engines could produce a lot of power, up to 3,200 horsepower. For moving underwater, it used two electric motors. These electric motors were quieter and allowed the submarine to sneak around.
The U-1102 could travel at a top speed of 17.6 knots (about 32.6 kilometers per hour) on the surface. Underwater, it was slower, reaching about 7.5 knots (13.9 kilometers per hour). It could dive to depths of up to 230 meters (755 feet).
Submarine Weapons
The U-1102 was armed with several weapons. It had five torpedo tubes, which are tubes that launch torpedoes. Four of these were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern). It carried 14 torpedoes in total.
For fighting on the surface, it had a large 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) deck gun. It also had anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes. These included a 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 inch) anti-aircraft guns. The submarine usually had a crew of 44 to 57 sailors.
Service and an Accident
The U-1102 was first used as a training ship. This means it helped teach new sailors how to operate a submarine. It was part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla from February 22 to May 12, 1944.
On March 24, 1944, something went wrong. The U-1102 sank during a diving exercise at its base in Pillau. Sadly, two crew members were lost in this accident. After the incident, the submarine was brought back to the surface and taken out of service on May 12, 1944.
The U-1102 was then sent to Danzig for repairs. After being fixed, it returned to service on August 15, 1944. It was still used as a training boat, but now under a new commander, Erwin Sell. The submarine later took part in Operation Hannibal. This was a large effort to evacuate German soldiers and civilians by sea towards the end of the war. The U-1102 sailed from Gotenhafen to Swinemünde and finally to Kiel, where it surrendered.
Capture and Final Fate
On May 13, 1945, the U-1102 surrendered to the Allied Forces in Hohwacht Bay, Germany. The Allies were the countries fighting against Germany in World War II.
The submarine was then moved to Wilhelmshaven and later to Loch Ryan in Scotland on June 23, 1945. It stayed there until it was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight. This was a post-war operation where the Allies sank many captured German U-boats to prevent them from being used again.
On December 21, 1945, the U-1102 was towed out to sea by the British destroyer HMS Zetland. It was then sunk by naval gunfire from several ships. These included the Polish destroyer ORP Piorun, and the British destroyers HMS Onslaught and HMS Zetland, along with the British sloop HMS Fowey. The U-1102 sank at 3:05 PM in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Ireland.
The Wreck Today
The remains of the U-1102 now lie at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. Its exact location is at 56°04′N 09°35′W / 56.067°N 9.583°W.
