German submarine U-3505
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-3505 |
| Ordered | 6 November 1943 |
| Builder | Danzig |
| Yard number | 1650 |
| Laid down | 9 July 1944 |
| Launched | 25 August 1944 |
| Commissioned | 7 October 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk on 3 April 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type XXI submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) ( o/a ) |
| Beam | 8 m (26 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 240 m (790 ft) |
| Complement | 5 officers, 52 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 46 656 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-3505 was a
Design
Like all
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
Service history
Although never used in combat, the submarine achieved some degree of fame due to a rescue mission. Her commander, Captain Horst Willner, disguised his wife as a sailor and smuggled her aboard together with their three-month-old baby (a crime punishable by death). The captain's family was originally to be evacuated on MV Wilhelm Gustloff, joining a flood of refugees fleeing East Prussia ahead of the advancing Red Army, in "Operation Hannibal". Willner cancelled their places and took them onto his submarine, and so probably saved their lives since Gustloff was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-13 with the greatest loss of life in maritime history.
After leaving
Returning to Kiel, U-3505 was to participate in torpedo exercises, but on 3 April was sunk in a bombing raid while in harbour. At least one sailor was killed.
References
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-3505". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 85.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- An Incredible Rescue Against All Orders U-3505 and the Children of Hela.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-3505". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
