German submarine U-215


German submarine U-215 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Navy during World War II. She was one of six U-boats of her kind, equipped with special vertical tubes that launched the mines. Her keel was laid down 15 November 1940 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 647. The U-boat was launched on 9 October 1941 and commissioned on 22 November with Kapitänleutnant Fritz Hoeckner in command.

Design

As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-215 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged, four-stroke, six-cylinder, diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced and two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths down to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-215 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, 12 torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an antiaircraft gun, in addition to five mine tubes with 15 SMA mines. The boat had a crew complement of 49.

Service history

U-215 was sunk in the summer of 1942 by British warship HMS Le Tiger, while on a mission to lay mines in Boston Harbor after attacking and sinking the U.S. Liberty ship SS Alexander Macomb, part of an allied convoy. The wreck was not discovered until 2004.

Wreck site

She now lies beneath the surface of the Atlantic, off the coast of New England and south of Nova Scotia, in Canadian territorial waters. Four of her five vertical tubes are still sealed, and her hatches are still sealed with the remains of 49 German sailors entombed within.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip nameNationalityTonnage Fate
3 July 1942SS Alexander MacombUnited States|1912