German submarine U-1233 facts for kids
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|} The German submarine U-1233was a special type of U-boat(a German submarine) built for Germany's navy during World War II. It was part of the Type IXC/40 class of submarines.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-1233 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 396 |
| Laid down | 29 April 1943 |
| Launched | 23 December 1943 |
| Commissioned | 22 March 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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| Identification codes: | M 49 604 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
Submarine Design
The U-1233 was a Type IXC/40 submarine. These were a bit bigger than earlier models. When it was on the surface, U-1233 weighed about 1,144 tons. When it was underwater, it weighed about 1,257 tons.
This U-boat was about 76.76 meters (251 feet 10 inches) long. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was 58.75 meters (192 feet 9 inches) long. The submarine was 6.86 meters (22 feet 6 inches) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet 6 inches) tall. It sat 4.67 meters (15 feet 4 inches) deep in the water.
How it Moved
The U-1233 used two large diesel engines when it was on the surface. These engines gave it a lot of power. When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors helped it move quietly beneath the waves.
The submarine had two propellers, each about 1.92 meters (6 feet 4 inches) wide. It could dive to a depth of up to 230 meters (750 feet).
Speed and Range
On the surface, the U-1233 could travel at a top speed of 18.3 knots (about 33.9 kilometers per hour or 21.1 miles per hour). When it was submerged, its top speed was 7.3 knots (about 13.5 kilometers per hour or 8.4 miles per hour).
When underwater, the U-boat could travel about 63 nautical miles (117 kilometers or 72 miles) at a slower speed of 4 knots. On the surface, it could go much further, about 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 kilometers or 15,940 miles) at 10 knots.
Weapons and Crew
The U-1233 was armed with six torpedo tubes. Four were at the front (bow) and two were at the back (stern). It carried 22 torpedoes.
For defense, it had a large 10.5 cm (4.1 inch) naval gun on its deck. It also had several anti-aircraft guns to protect it from planes. These included a 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 inch) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The submarine had a crew of 48 people, including 4 officers and 44 enlisted sailors.
Service History
The U-1233 was ordered on October 14, 1941. It was built by Deutsche Werft AG in Hamburg, Germany. Its construction started on April 29, 1943, when its keel was laid. The submarine was officially launched into the water on December 23, 1943.
About three months later, on March 22, 1944, it was officially put into service. Its first commander was Captain Hans-Joachim Kuhn. The U-boat first joined the 31st U-boat Flotilla for training.
War Patrol and Surrender
After its training, U-1233 was moved to the 33rd U-boat Flotilla on November 1, 1944. This was for its active duty during the war. The U-boat left Horten Naval Base on December 11, 1944, for its only war patrol.
After returning to Kiel, Germany, Captain Kuhn was replaced by Heinrich Niemeyer on April 15, 1945. In May 1945, as World War II was ending, U-1233 traveled to Fredericia to surrender to the Allied forces. On its way, U-1233 and two other U-boats were attacked by Allied planes. During this attack, one P-51 Mustang plane from No. 126 Squadron RAF was shot down.
Operation Deadlight
In June 1945, the surrendered U-boats, including U-1233, were taken to Wilhelmshaven under British guard. From there, they sailed to Loch Ryan, Scotland. This was a gathering point for an event called Operation Deadlight.
Operation Deadlight was when the Allied forces sank many captured German U-boats. On December 28, 1945, U-1233 was towed out to sea by the ship HMS Freedom. The towing cable broke, so the U-boat was sunk by artillery fire from the ship HMS Onslaught on December 29, 1945. It sank in the Atlantic Ocean at the location 54°51′N 8°54′W / 54.850°N 8.900°W.
