Seeteufel
![]() Profile drawing of a Seeteufel
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History | |
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Name | Seeteufel |
Namesake | Sea Devil |
Fate | Demolished, May 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Midget submarine |
Displacement | 35 t (34 long tons) (submerged) |
Length | 14.2 m (47 ft) |
Beam | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | 1 × caterpillar tracks |
Speed |
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Test depth | 21 m (69 ft) |
Complement | 2 |
Armament | 2 external G7e torpedoes or 4 mines |
Seeteufel (Sea Devil, also known as the Elefant (Elephant)) was a two-man amphibious midget submarine, developed by Nazi Germany during World War II. Only one prototype was built in 1944, although its testing was relatively successful and negotiations began for another series of three to test the necessary changes before beginning series production in 1945. These plans were cancelled at the beginning of that year when the decision was made to concentrate production on designs already being built.
Background and description
The
The prototype Seeteufel was developed in four months and was ready for testing in July. A two-man crew controlled the 14.2-meter-long (46 ft 7 in) submarine. It had a beam of 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) and displaced 35 metric tons (34 long tons). The submarine was equipped with an 80-brake-horsepower (60 kW) gasoline-fueled Otto engine provided propulsion on both water (at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface using a single propeller) and land (at 10 kilometers per hour (6.2 mph)). When submerged, the same 25-brake-horsepower (19 kW) electric motor as used in the Seehund (Seal) midget submarine, gave the vessel a cruising speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). The prototype demonstrated a diving depth of 21 meters (69 ft)[2]
The Seeteufel's engine was in the
Testing showed that the submarine performed well underwater, but it was considered underpowered on land and the tracks were too narrow. More powerful 250 bhp (190 kW)
Assessment
Vizeadmiral (
"I consider the Sea Devil a promising weapon for use in commando raids. It is independent of mother craft and base personnel, can land on foreign shores, commit acts of sabotage, and evade pursuit ashore or afloat. It can be taken to site by a mother ship equipped with a large crane. With an engine of higher output than that of the experimental boat, a speed of 8 to 10 knots can be obtained. Speed and radius of action could be further increased by installation of a closed-cycle engine. Intended for use in coastal waters if weather is not too rough, and on rivers, lakes and artificial lakes..."[4]
References
Bibliography
- Kemp, Paul (1996). Underwater Warriors. London: Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-228-6.
- Mallmann Showell, Jak P. (2002). The German Navy Handbook, 1939–1945. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3205-8.
- Moore, John & Compton-Hall, Richard (1987). Submarine Warfare: Today and Tomorrow. Bethesda, Maryland: Adler & Adler. ISBN 0-91756-121-X.
- Prenatt, Jamie & Stille, Mark (2014). Axis Midget Submarines: 1939–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0122-7.
- Rossler, Eberhard (2001). The U-Boat: The Evolution and Technical History of German Submarines. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36120-8.
External links
- "Seeteufel (Elefant) Midget Sub". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.
- "Seeteufel (Monkfish)". U Boat.