German submarine U-1406
German World War II submarine
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German submarine U-1406 was a Type XVIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. She was one of a small number of U-boats fitted with Hellmuth Walter's high test peroxide propulsion system, which offered a combination of air-independent propulsion and high submerged speeds.[4]
U-1406 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-1406 |
| Ordered | 4 January 1943 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 256 |
| Laid down | 30 October 1943 |
| Launched | 2 January 1945 |
| Commissioned | 8 February 1945 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| Class & type | Type XVIIB submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Draught | 4.30 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Capacity |
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| Complement | 19 |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of |
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| Identification codes | M 47 655 |
| Commanders | |
| Operations | None |
| Victories | None |
U-1406 was laid down on 30 October 1943 at the Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 256. She was launched on 2 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Klug on 8 February 1945.[4]
Design
When completed, U-1406 was 41.45 metres (136 ft) long overall, with a beam of 4.50 metres (14 ft 9 in) and a draught of 4.3 metres (14 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 337 long tons (342 t) submerged. The submarine was powered by one Deutz SAA 8M517 supercharged 8-cylinder diesel engine producing a total of 210–230 metric horsepower (150–170 kW; 210–230 shp) for use while surfaced and one Walter gas turbine producing a total of 2,500 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,500 shp) for use while submerged. She had one shaft and one propeller. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) using the HTP drive. When submerged, the U-boat could operate for 123 nautical miles (228 km; 142 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) on her HTP system and when surfaced, she could travel 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[5]
The submarine was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (All fitted at the bow) and four torpedoes. The boat had a complement of 19 men.[5]
Service history
U-1406 did not undertake any war patrols and was instead assigned as a training boat at first to the 8th U-boat Flotilla, followed by the 5th U-boat Flotilla.[4]
The U-1406 was scuttled on 7 May 1945 in Cuxhaven. The wreck was later raised and broken up.[4]