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German submarine U 826

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Name
  
U-826

Yard number
  
1589

Commissioned
  
11 May 1944

Launched
  
9 March 1944

Draft
  
4.74 m

Builder
  
Schichau-Werke

Ordered
  
8 June 1942

Laid down
  
6 August 1943

Construction started
  
6 August 1943

Length
  
67 m

Beam
  
6.2 m

German submarine U-826

Fate
  
Surrendered on 11 May 1945

German submarine U-826 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

She was ordered on 8 June 1942, and was laid down on 6 August 1943 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1589. She was launched on 9 March 1944 and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Olaf Lübcke on 11 May 1944.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-826 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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-826 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, 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 44 — 52 men.

Service history

U-826 participated in one war patrol that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.

On 11 May 1945, U-826 surrendered at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland, after being transferred to Lisahally first. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-826 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-826 was towed out and sank on 1 December 1945, by unknown causes.

The wreck now lies at 56°10′N 10°05′W.

References

German submarine U-826 Wikipedia