Seehund | |
|---|---|
| Country | Germnay |
| Role | Midget submarine |
| Produced | 1944–1945 |
| Built | 285 |
The Seehund (German: “seal”), also known as Type XXVII, was a midget submarine manufactured by Nazi Germany during World War II. Designed in 1944 and operated by two-man crews, it was used by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during the closing months of the war, sinking nine merchant vessels and damaging an additional three, while losing 35 boats, mostly attributed to bad weather. The French Navy used three captured boats after the war until 1953.
Source: Seehund on Wikipedia
| Seehund German Midget Submarine Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Bill Maloney |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 20 |
See also:
General Characteristics and Role
The Seehund (“Seal” or “Sea Dog”), designated Type XXVIIB, was the most successful German midget submarine of World War II, seeing action in the final months of the conflict (1944–1945). Designed under the direction of Dr. Fischer and Grim, the Seehund was engineered from the start as a true small submarine, incorporating the lessons learned from earlier, less effective midget types. Its small size and quiet, slow-speed electric drive made it extremely difficult for Allied radar and sonar (Asdic) to detect, optimizing it for stealthy coastal operations and hit-and-run attacks against Allied shipping in the English Channel and the North Sea.
| Property | Typical Value (Type XXVIIB5) |
|---|---|
| Role | Midget Submarine (Coastal Defense/Attack) |
| National Origin | Nazi Germany (Kriegsmarine) |
| Year Introduced | 1944 (Operational January 1945) |
| Crew | 2 (Commander and Engineer) |
| Length | 11.86 m (38 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Displacement (Submerged) | 17 long tons (17.3 tonnes) |
| Maximum Diving Depth | 30 m (98 ft) (Safe operational depth) |
Propulsion and Performance
- Propulsion: Diesel-electric system.
- Surfaced Engine: 1 x Büssing 6-cylinder diesel engine (60 hp).
- Submerged Motor: 1 x AEG electric motor (25 hp).
- Maximum Speed (Surfaced): 7.7 knots (14 km/h).
- Maximum Speed (Submerged): 6 knots (11 km/h).
- Maximum Range (Surfaced): 270 nautical miles at 7 knots (can be extended with external tanks).
- Maximum Range (Submerged): 63 nautical miles at 3 knots.
Armament and Service Record
- Armament: 2 x 21-inch (533 mm) G7e torpedoes, carried externally in fixed racks below the hull.
- Production: Approximately 285 units were completed before the end of the war, though over 1,000 were originally ordered.
- Combat Effectiveness: Despite the late introduction, the Seehund was the most effective German midget submarine. In 142 sorties between January and April 1945, they sank 8 Allied ships (totaling over 17,000 gross tons) and damaged three others.
- Post-War Use: Several captured Seehund submarines were used by the French Navy until 1953 for testing and training.
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