German submarine U-1195 facts for kids
The U-1195 was a German submarine, often called a U-boat. It was part of Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II.
Its building started on February 6, 1943, in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland). It officially joined the navy on November 4, 1943.
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Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|
| Name | U-1195 |
| Ordered | 25 August 1941 |
| Builder | F Schichau GmbH, Danzig |
| Yard number | 1565 |
| Laid down | 6 February 1943 |
| Launched | 2 September 1943 |
| Commissioned | 4 November 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk by HMS Watchman by depth charges on 7 April 1945 to the south east of the Isle of Wight at 50°33′22.26″N 0°56′17.81″W / 50.5561833°N 0.9382806°W |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement |
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| 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 | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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About the U-1195 Submarine
The U-1195 was a Type VIIC submarine. This type was an improved version of older German submarines.
When on the surface, the U-1195 weighed about 769 tons. When underwater, it weighed about 871 tons.
Size and Power
The submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long overall. Its strong inner hull, called the pressure hull, was 50.50 meters (165 feet) long. The submarine was 6.20 meters (20 feet) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. It sat 4.74 meters (15 feet) deep in the water.
The U-1195 used two diesel engines when on the surface. These engines gave it a lot of power. When underwater, it used two electric motors. These motors made it quieter and harder to detect.
Speed and Range
The submarine could travel at a top speed of 17.7 knots (about 32.8 km/h or 20.4 mph) on the surface. Underwater, its top speed was 7.6 knots (about 14.1 km/h or 8.7 mph).
It could travel a long way without needing to refuel. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 km or 9,782 miles) at a speed of 10 knots. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 km or 92 miles) at 4 knots.
How Deep It Could Go
The U-1195 was designed to operate safely at depths of up to 230 meters (750 feet). Its "crush depth," the deepest it could go before its hull might break, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 to 968 feet).
Weapons and Crew
The submarine had five torpedo tubes. Four were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern). It carried 14 torpedoes or 26 naval mines.
For defense, it had several guns:
- One 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) deck gun with 220 rounds.
- One 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) anti-aircraft gun.
- Two twin 2 cm (0.79 inch) anti-aircraft guns.
The U-1195 usually had a crew of 4 officers and between 40 and 56 enlisted sailors.
U-1195's Journey and End
The U-1195 was commanded by Ernst Cordes. It took part in naval operations during World War II.
On March 21, 1945, the U-1195 sank a cargo ship called the John R. Park. This ship was a "Liberty Ship," a type of cargo vessel built quickly during the war.
Later, on April 6, 1945, the U-1195 attacked a group of ships known as Convoy VWP 16 in the English Channel. During this attack, it sank the troop transport ship Cuba.
The Sinking of U-1195
The very next day, on April 7, 1945, the U-1195 was sunk. It was attacked by a British warship, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Watchman (D26). The Watchman used special underwater bombs called "depth charges" and a weapon called a "Hedgehog mortar."
The U-1195 sank southeast of the Isle of Wight in about 30 meters (98 feet) of water. Out of its crew of 50, only 14 survived. They had to make a very risky escape from the sunken submarine.
Ships Sunk by U-1195
Here is a list of the ships that the U-1195 sank:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 March 1945 | John R. Park |  United States |
7,194 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1945 | Cuba |  United Kingdom |
11,420 | Sunk |
