German submarine U-150 (1940) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-150
Ordered	25 September 1939
Builder	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number	279
Laid down	25 May 1940
Launched	19 October 1940
Commissioned	27 November 1940
Fate	Surrendered at Heligoland on 5 May 1945, sunk on 21 December 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IID coastal submarine
Displacement	314 t (309 long tons) surfaced 364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length	43.97 m (144 ft 3 in) o/a 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) o/a 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height	8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught	3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power	700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels) 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Range	3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	80 m (260 ft)
Complement	3 officers, 22 men
Armament	3 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 5 × torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB mines 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	1st U-boat Flotilla 27 November – 31 December 1940 22nd U-boat Flotilla 1 January 1941 – 31 March 1945 31st U-boat Flotilla 1 April 1945 – 5 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Hinrich Kelling 27 November 1940 – 31 August 1942 Oblt.z.S. Hermann Schultz 9 January 1942 – May 1944 Oblt.z.S. Emil Ranzau May - 7 June 1944 Oblt.z.S. Hunold Ahlefeld 16 July – 21 December 1944 Oblt.z.S. Hans-Helmut Anschütz 22 December 1944 – 31 March 1945 Oblt.z.S. Jürgen Kriegshammer 1 April – 5 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-150 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 25 May 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 279. She was launched on 19 October 1940 and commissioned on 27 November with Hinrich Kelling in command.

U-146 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 22nd flotilla and subsequently to the 31st flotilla. She spent the war as a training vessel.

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-150 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 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 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 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).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph). 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-150 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 25.

Fate

She was surrendered at the German island of Heligoland on 5 May 1945, taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland and sunk by gunfire from the destroyer HMS Onslaught and the patrol sloop HMS Powey as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945. She sank at 56°04′N 09°35′W / 56.067°N 9.583°W / 56.067; -9.583.