Kleinst-Uboote
- Details
- Published: 08 December 2012 08 December 2012
- Last Updated: 08 December 2012 08 December 2012
by Gareth Collins
Seehund: Two-Man midget submarine about 12 metres long and 1.60 metres in width. It has a 6-Cyldinder-Büssing-Diesel engine with an output of 60hp and an Electro-Motor (AEG) outputting 25hp. It had a maximum design speed of 7.5 nautical miles per hour on the surface and 6 nautical miles per hour submerged. It had an operational range of over 300 nautical miles (500 if fitted with external tanks) and around 60 nautical miles submerged, roughly 5 days at sea. Diving time was around 5-7 seconds to 5 metres. The Seehund was armed with 2 torpedos which worked well in employment and seen its best achievements in the Channel. The Seehund seen its longest tour at sea of 11 days, using the tidal current at times to save on fuel. After the war the boats were taken over by other navies.
Seehund II: Two-man midget submarine of about 14 metres in length. It was an improvement over the Seehund as it had installed a rotary diesel engine. It was armed with 2 torpedoes and had completed testing but was never used operationally.
Schwertwal: Two-man Walter midget submarine with an Ingolin-Antrieb with H2O2, 500hp Walter-Turbine. It had a maximum speed of 28-30 nautical miles per hour and fuel was exhausted after 100 nautical miles. It was armed with 2 torpedoes. It was never used operationally.
Kleiner Delphin: One-man midget submarine of 5 metres in length. It had an Otto rotary engine with dynamic drive. It was extremely lightweight in contruction. It was armed with a 1200kg explosive charge and the pilot was to jump out of the craft before impact. It was never operationally used.
Großer Delphin: Two-manned midged submarine with an Otto rotary engine and a maximum speed of 15 nautical miles per hour. It had been dynamic diving & surfacing testing. It was never operationally used.