German midget submarine U-Boot XXVII Seehund COBI 4846 - World War II

You know that:

• The midget submarine Seehund was built in 1944 as a successor to the small but dangerous Hecht.
• The German army ordered a total of 1,000 units to be delivered within a few months of production starting, but despite the involvement of two German and one Italian shipyard, only 285 minisubs were produced and delivered.
• The Seehund was the most successful German midget submarine designed for near-shore operations to a depth of 50 metres.
• The very first combat deployment was not a success. Of the 18 vessels deployed in the English Channel, only two returned to base.
• For the crews of the submarines, each mission was a nightmare. Extremely cramped space, noise, engine heat and high sensitivity to the vagaries of the weather made each voyage an extremely risky undertaking.
• On the other hand, the small size of the submarine was an advantage, as it was very difficult for an adversary observer to detect an approaching vessel.
• A six-cylinder diesel engine located directly behind the helmsman's back was used for surface movement. For underwater navigation, an AEG silent electric motor powered by a set of AFA 7MAL210 batteries.
• After World War II, captured submarines were used by France under the designation S621-S624 until 1954.
• There are still many surviving examples around the world, on display in more than six naval and military museums.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: length 11.86 m, width 1.5 m, height 2.22 m
• propeller diameter 50 cm
• displacement 14 900 kg on the surface and 17 000 kg below the surface
• propulsion unit 45 kW NAG diesel engine + 19 kW AEG electric motor
• maximum speed 13 km/h on the surface and 11 km/h below the surface
• range 556 km
• operational depth of submergence 2.5 m
• maximum dive depth 50 m
• armament 2 x G7E torpedoes of 533 mm calibre
• crew 2