Newt (submarine)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Newt
Depiction of the newt
Depiction of the newt
Ship data
flag German EmpireGerman Empire (Reichskriegsflagge) German Empire
Ship type Small submarine
Shipyard Flender works
Launch 1944
Ship dimensions and crew
length
10.783 m ( Lüa )
width 1.82 (greatest width) m
displacement 8.40
 
crew 1
Machinery from June 12, 1944
machine Electric motor SSW-E torpedo motor type GL 231 / 7.5
Machine
performance
13 HP (10 kW)
Top
speed
4.3 kn (8 km / h)
propeller 1 ⌀ 550 mm
Mission data submarine
Radius of action 93 nm
Dive time Max. 50 h (oxygen limit)
Immersion depth, max. 60 m
Top
speed
submerged
5 kn (9 km / h)

The Molch was a mass-produced mini submarine for the small combat units of the German Navy during the Second World War . Its unsatisfactory behavior at sea meant that the newt was only used very late in the field. 363 units had been produced by January 1945. After that, production was discontinued in favor of the seal .

Development history

Drawing of the newt with exercise torpedo

The pig was developed and driven based on the standard G 7 torpedo in the spring of 1944. The main requirement of the naval command was the use of the sufficiently available electric drives of the SSW-Eto type with a speed of 596 rpm. The first prototype of the pig was developed in the Eckernförde torpedo testing facility and presented on June 12, 1944. Its primary armament consisted of two 53.3 cm diameter combat etos, which were mounted in guardrails on both sides of the fuselage. The outer skin thickness of the pig was 3 mm, which allowed it a theoretical diving depth of 40 m. During the sea trials, however, it was found that the micro-submarine could easily dive 60 to 70 meters deep.

The outer shape resembled a cylindrical hull with a tapering stern part. The entire drive system and the control center with a short tower and plexiglass dome were located in the rear section. The periscope was 1.5 m long, rigid and could be pivoted to either side at an angle of 30 degrees. At the end of it was a photo compass, which could be read using a mirror in the control center. In addition, the control center housed the on and off switch for the drive, a wheel for side control, an aircraft stick for depth control and flood valves for the diving, trim and control cells. The torpedoes were triggered by means of a footrest. The speed control of the pig had no reversing function and two functions with the designation small speed ahead and all speed ahead .

The diving facilities consisted of a large diving cell in the bow and cells on both sides of the headquarters. The trim tank was also located on the underside of the boat in the bow area. To ensure a balance between the heavier stern of the ship and the light bow, the bow area was constantly flooded during use. Behind the diving cell of the bow, which reached back to the control center, was the room for the batteries and compressed air cylinders.

The sea tests very quickly showed that the vehicle was extremely vulnerable during the journey due to its sensitive trim and ballast structure. The pilot was constantly busy balancing the boat with trim or ballast in order to steer a safe course. The OKM therefore classified the pig not as a front-line weapon, but as a training boat.

Calls

On September 19, 1944, the 1st Molch Flotilla (K-Flotilla 411 ) arrived with 60 boats in Sanremo ( Italy ) to attack the Allied ships off Nice and Menton . However, the attack was canceled. The 2nd Newch Flotilla (K-Flotilla 412) was relocated to Holland in December 1944 . Most of the newts used were lost there in the following battles . Eight newts were lost on February 22, 1945 and 14 out of 16 newts on March 13 . The 3rd Newch Flotilla (K-Flotilla 413) was also planned for Holland, but was no longer used. The 4th Molch Flotilla (K-Flotilla 415) was stationed in Norway and Denmark, but was not used until the end of the war.

literature

  • Harald Fock: Naval small weapons. Manned torpedoes, small submarines, small speedboats, explosives yesterday - today - tomorrow. Nikol, Hamburg 1996, ISBN 3-930656-34-5 , pp. 62-63.

Web links

Commons : Kleinst-U-Boot Molch  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. A K-Flotilla 414 did not exist.