German submarine U-39 (1938)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-39.

U-37, (an identical U-boat to U-39) at Lorient in 1940
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-39
Ordered29 July 1936
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number944
Laid down2 June 1937
Launched22 September 1938
Commissioned10 December 1938
FateSunk on 14 September 1939 north-west of Ireland. No dead and 44 or 43 survivors (sources vary)[1][2]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXA submarine
Displacement
  • 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,153 t (1,135 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 65–78 nmi (120–144 km; 75–90 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 12 679
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gerhard Glattes
  • 10 December 1938 – 14 Sep 1939
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 19 August – 14 September 1939
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged

German submarine U-39 was a Type IXA[3] U-boat of the Kriegsmarine that operated from 1938 to the first few days of World War II.[1]

She was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 29 July 1936 as part of the re-armament program (Aufrüstung) in Germany, which was illegal under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The keel for U-39 was laid down on 2 June 1937, by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen. She was commissioned on 10 December 1938 with Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Glattes in command.[1]

On 14 September 1939, just 27 days after she began her first patrol, U-39 attempted to sink the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal by firing two torpedoes at her. Due to a technical defect the torpedoes exploded before reaching their target. The U-39 was immediately hunted down by three British destroyers and disabled with depth charges. After the crew managed to resurface with the then sinking submarine all members were captured during the evacuation.[4][2]

U-39 was the first German U-boat to be sunk in World War II.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXA boat U-39". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b Kemp 1999, p. 60.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type IX long range boats". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference U.39 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-boat losses-1939". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 February 2015.