German submarine U-874 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-874
Ordered	25 August 1941
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	1082
Laid down	17 March 1943
Launched	21 December 1943
Commissioned	8 April 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 Sunk on 31 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IXD2 submarine
Displacement	1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged
Length	87.58 m (287 ft 4 in) o/a 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	7.50 m (24 ft 7 in) o/a 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught	5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
Installed power	9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 bhp) (diesels) 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range	12,750 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 57 nmi (106 km; 66 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	66
Armament	6 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) 24 × torpedoes or 48 TMA or 72 TMB naval mines 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 (150 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 8 April 1944 – 28 February 1945 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Theodor Petersen 8 April 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-874 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 25 August 1941, and was laid down on 17 March 1943 at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1082. She was launched on 21 December 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Theodor Petersen on 8 April 1944.

Design

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-874 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-874 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.

Service history

On 9 May 1945, U-874 surrendered at Horten, Norway. She was later transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 29 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-874 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-874 was towed out on 31 December 1945, and sunk.

The wreck is located at 55°47′N 09°27′W / 55.783°N 9.450°W / 55.783; -9.450.