U-9, a typical Type IIB boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-13
Ordered2 February 1935
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number248
Laid down20 June 1935
Launched9 November 1935
Commissioned30 November 1935
FateSunk 31 May 1940, in the North Sea. 26 survivors
General characteristics
Class and typeType IIB coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 279 t (275 long tons) surfaced
  • 328 t (323 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.60 m (28 ft 3 in)
Draught3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 1,800 nmi (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35–43 nmi (65–80 km; 40–49 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement3 officers, 22 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 15 421
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen
  • 30 November 1935 – 30 September 1937
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Karl Daublebsky von Eichhain
  • 1 October 1937 – 5 November 1939
  • Kptlt. Heinz Scheringer
  • 6 November 1939 – 2 January 1940
  • Oblt. Wolfgang Lüth
  • 16 – 28 December 1939
  • Oblt. Max-Martin Schulte
  • 3 January – 31 May 1940
Operations:
  • 9 patrols
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 25 – 31 August 1939
  • b. 2 – 6 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 11 September – 3 October 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 25 October – 3 November 1939
  • 4th patrol:
  • 15 – 25 November 1939
  • 5th patrol:
  • 9 – 15 December 1939
  • 6th patrol:
  • 24 January – 5 February 1940
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 16 – 29 February 1940
  • b. 2 – 3 March 1940
  • c. 25 – 26 March 1940
  • 8th patrol:
  • a. 31 March – 19 April 1940
  • b. 21 April – 2 May 1940
  • 9th patrol:
  • 26 – 31 May 1940
Victories:
  • 9 merchant ships sunk
    (28,056 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (26,218 GRT)

German submarine U-13 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine which was commissioned on 30 November 1936, following construction at the Deutsche Werke shipyards at Kiel. The first commander on board was Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen. In her career she completed nine patrols, all while serving with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. The U-boat succeeded in sinking nine ships and damaging three more.

Design

German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-13 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[1] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and a draught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-13 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of twentyfive.[1]

Fate

U-13 was sunk on 31 May 1940, in the North Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south-east of Lowestoft, in position 52°26′N 02°02′E / 52.433°N 2.033°E / 52.433; 2.033 by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Weston. There were no casualties.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[2]
10 September 1939 Magdapur  United Kingdom 8,641 Sunk (mine)
16 September 1939 City of Paris  United Kingdom 10,902 Damaged (mine)
24 September 1939 Phryné  France 2,660 Sunk (mine)
30 October 1939 Cairnmona  United Kingdom 4,666 Sunk
19 November 1939 Bowling  United Kingdom 793 Sunk
6 January 1940 City of Marseilles  United Kingdom 8,317 Damaged (mine)
31 January 1940 Start  Norway 1,168 Sunk
1 February 1940 Fram  Sweden 2,491 Sunk
6 February 1940 Anu  Estonia 1,421 Sunk (mine)
17 April 1940 Swainby  United Kingdom 4,935 Sunk
26 April 1940 Lily  Denmark 1,281 Sunk
28 April 1940 Scottish American  United Kingdom 6,999 Damaged

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 39–40.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-13". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 October 2015.

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.
  • 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.
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