German submarine U-26 (1936)

U-25, the other Type IA U-boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-26
Ordered17 December 1934
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number904
Laid down1 August 1935
Launched14 March 1936
Commissioned6 May 1936
FateScuttled 1 July 1940, southwest of Ireland. 48 survivors[1]
General characteristics [2]
TypeType IA ocean-going submarine
Displacement
Length72.39 m (237 ft 6 in)
Beam6.21 m (20 ft 4 in)
Draught4.30 m (14 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.6 knots (34.4 km/h; 21.4 mph) surfaced
  • 8.3 knots (15.4 km/h; 9.6 mph) submerged
Range
  • 7,900 nmi (14,600 km; 9,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 78 nmi (144 km; 90 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth200 m (660 ft)
Complement4 officers, 39 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 07 314
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 29 August – 26 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 22 October – 5 December 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 29 January – 1 March 1940
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 13 – 18 April 1940
  • b. 19 – 25 April 1940
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 23 – 27 May 1940
  • b. 29 May – 5 June 1940
  • 6th patrol:
  • 20 June – 1 July 1940
Victories:
  • 11 merchant ships sunk
    (48.645 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (4,871 GRT)

German submarine U-26 was one of the two Type IA ocean-going U-boats produced by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Constructed in Bremen, U-26 was commissioned in May 1936. She experienced a short, but successful combat career, sinking eleven ships.

Until 1940, U-26 was primarily used as training vessel and for propaganda purposes by the German government.[citation needed] During her trials it was found that the Type IA submarine was difficult to handle due to her poor stability and slow dive rate.

In early 1940, the boat was called into combat duty due to the shortage of available submarines. U-26 participated in six war patrols, sinking eleven ships and badly damaging one other. On her first patrol laying mines, U-26 sank three merchant ships and damaged one British warship. On her second war patrol it became the first U-boat during World War II to enter the Mediterranean Sea. U-26 participated in three other successful patrols, sinking four additional merchant ships.

  1. ^ Blair 1996, pp. 170–171.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, p. 39.