German submarine U-5269

German submarine U-5269 was a Type XXVIIB "Seehund" midget submarine which bears one of the highest registry numbers of the Kriegsmarine to be issued to a submarine during World War II. U-5269 was not, however, the last German submarine commissioned (that boat was U-4712) but was issued a higher registry since contracted boats were frequently commissioned out of order due to scheduling and construction conflicts.

Miniature submarine "Seehund Class"
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-5269
Ordered7 July 1944
BuilderF. Schichau, Elbing
Commissioned3 November 1944
General characteristics
TypeType XXVIIB Midget submarine
Displacement17 long tons (17 t) submerged
Length12 m (39 ft)
Beam1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Draught3.66 m (12 ft 0 in)
Installed power
  • 575 PS (423 kW; 567 shp) (diesel drive)
  • 572 PS (421 kW; 564 shp) (standard electric drive)
  • 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp) (silent electric drive)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 270 nmi (500 km; 310 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Complement2
Armament2 G7e torpedoes

As with the majority of the German mini-submarines of late World War II, U-5269 was part of the "wonder weapon" effort of Nazi Germany in an attempt to stem the defeats of 1944 and 1945. Karl Dönitz had originally hoped for over one thousand miniature submarines to be constructed, but in the end the total number commissioned were just under three hundred. The vessel is thought to have operated during the winter of 1944 and either scrapped or sunk in early 1945[1]

References

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  1. ^ Paterson, Lawrence, Weapons of Desperation - German Frogmen and Midget Submarines of World War II, Chatham Publishing (2006)