Name U-225 Cost 4,439,000 Reichsmark Laid down 15 July 1941 Construction started 15 July 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.18 m | Ordered 15 August 1940 Yard number 655 Commissioned 11 July 1942 Launched 28 May 1942 Draft 4.74 m | |
Builder Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft | ||
German submarine U-225 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
Ordered on 15 August 1940 from the Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, she was laid down on 16 June 1941 as yard number 655, launched on 28 May 1942 and commissioned on 11 July.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-225 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-225 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
First Patrol
She departed from Kiel on her first patrol on 5 December 1942. It was during this patrol that she successfully attacked five vessels in convoy ONS 154. She returned to Brest on the 8 January 1943.
Final Patrol
Less that one month later, she departed from Brest on her second and final patrol on 2 February 1943. After just 21 days, she was sunk.
Fate
U-225 was attacked and sunk with depth charges by HMS Dianthus with the loss of all 46 crew on 22 February 1943 at position 48°37′N 30°35′W.