German submarine U-1230 facts for kids
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|} U-1230was a German submarine(often called a U-boat) that served during World War II. It was part of the German navy, known as the Kriegsmarine, during the time of Nazi Germany. This submarine was built in Hamburgand started its service on January 26, 1944. Its commander was Hans Hilbig. U-1230went on only one mission during the war. It sailed from a naval base in Norway and returned safely in early 1945.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-1230 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 393 |
| Laid down | 15 March 1943 |
| Launched | 8 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 26 January 1944 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IXC/40 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 | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (5,458 GRT) |
Understanding the U-1230 Design
U-1230 was a special kind of German submarine called a Type IXC/40. These submarines were a bit bigger than earlier models.
Size and Weight of the Submarine
When U-1230 was on the surface, it weighed about 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons). But when it was underwater, it weighed more, around 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons). The submarine was quite long, about 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) overall. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) long.
It was 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) wide and 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) tall. The part of the boat that sat under the water, its draught, was 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in).
How U-1230 Moved
The submarine used two powerful diesel engines when it was on the surface. These engines gave it 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) of power. When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors that provided 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) of power. It had two propellers, each about 1.92 m (6.3 ft) wide, to push it through the water.
U-1230 could travel at a top speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) on the surface. Underwater, it was slower, reaching about 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). It could dive very deep, up to 230 metres (750 ft) below the surface.
Travel Range and Crew
When on the surface, the submarine could travel a long distance, about 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) (nautical miles) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Underwater, its range was shorter, about 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).
The submarine needed a crew of forty-eight people to operate it. This included four officers and forty-four other sailors.
Weapons on Board
U-1230 was well-armed. It had six torpedo tubes for firing torpedoes, with four at the front and two at the back. It carried 22 torpedoes in total.
For fighting on the surface, it had a large deck gun that was 10.5 cm (4.13 in) in size, with 180 rounds of ammunition. It also had several anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes. These included a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns.
U-1230 in Action
U-1230 only went on one war patrol during World War II. Its main impact was not just from fighting in the Battle of the Atlantic. It also played a special role in transporting spies.
Operation Magpie: A Secret Mission
During its patrol, U-1230 was involved in a secret mission called Operation Elster (which means "Magpie" in German). On November 29, 1944, it dropped off two German spies, William Curtis Colepaugh and Eric Gimpel, at Hancock Point in the United States. Their goal was to gather important technical information. However, the mission failed, and both spies were caught.
The End of U-1230's Journey
When World War II ended, the U-1230 was captured by the Allies. It was taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland. On December 17, 1945, the British Royal Navy sank the submarine. This was part of an operation called "Operation Deadlight", where many captured German U-boats were sunk.
Interestingly, U-1230 did not lose any crew members during its time in the war. This was quite unusual for a U-boat.
Ships Sunk by U-1230
U-1230 sank only one merchant ship during its patrol.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 December 1944 | Cornwallis |  Canada |
5,458 | Sunk |
