German submarine U-145 (1940) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-145
Ordered	25 September 1939
Builder	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number	274
Laid down	29 March 1940
Launched	21 September 1940
Commissioned	16 October 1940
Fate	Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 22 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IID coastal submarine
Displacement	314 t (309 long tons) surfaced 364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length	43.97 m (144 ft 3 in) o/a 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) (o/a) 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height	8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught	3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power	700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels) 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Range	3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	80 m (260 ft)
Complement	3 officers, 22 men
Armament	3 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 5 × torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB mines 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	1st U-boat Flotilla 16 October - 18 December 1940 22nd U-boat Flotilla 19 December 1940 - 5 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Heinrich Driver 16 October - 18 December 1940 Kptlt. Rudolf Franzius 19 December 1940 - 21 October 1941 Oblt.z.S. Heinz Schomburg 22 October - 25 November 1941 Oblt.z.S. Reimar Ziesmer 26 November 1941 - 14 December 1942 Oblt.z.S. Otto Hübschen 15 December 1942 - 12 March 1944 Oblt.z.S. Horst Dieter Hübsch 13 March - 26 November 1944 Oblt.z.S. Friederich-Karl Görner 27 November 1944 - 5 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 18 June - 6 July 1941 2nd patrol: 14 – 29 July 1941 3rd patrol: 9 – 28 August 1941
Victories:	None

German submarine U-145 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 29 March 1940 at Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 274, launched on 21 September and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Driver.

Her service was carried out, first with the 1st U-boat Flotilla then the 22nd flotilla; she stayed with the latter organization for most of her career.

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-145 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-145 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.

Operational career

U-145 did not sink or damage any ships, but she conducted three war patrols all in 1941.