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List of U-boat types

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Type VIIC/41 U-boat

List of U-boat types contains lists of the German U-boat types (submarine classes) used in World War I and World War II.

The anglicized word U-boat is usually only used as reference for German submarines in the two World Wars and therefore postwar submarine in the Bundesmarine and later German Navy are not included.

In the period between the two World Wars the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic was not allowed to build submarines according to the Treaty of Versailles; development was undertaken secretly through a Dutch company NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw before the mid-1930s. The terms of the Anglo-German naval agreement acknowledged the official building of new U-boats.

World War I

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This list contains the German U-boats types prior or during the First World War.

U-boat types of World War I
Type Year of introduction Number of U-boats completed
U-1 1906 1
U-2 1906 1
U-3 1907 2
U-5 1908 4
U 9 1908 4
U 13 1909 3
U-16 1909 1
U-17 1910 2
U-19 1910 4
U-23 1911 4
U-27 1912 4
U 31 1912 11
U-43 1914 8
U 51 1914 6
U 57 1914 6
U 63 1915 3
U 66 1913 5
U 81 1915 6
U 87 1915 6
U 93 1915 22
U 115 1916 0
U 127 1916 0
U 139 1916 3
U 142 1916 1
U 151 1916 7
UA 1912 1
UB I 1914 17
UB II 1915 30
UB III 1916 95
UC I 1914 15
UC II 1915 64
UC III 1916 16
UD 1 1918 0
UE I 1915 10
UE II 1916 9
UF 1918 0

World War II

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This list contains the German U-boats types prior or during the Second World War.

U-boat types of World War II
Type Year of introduction Number of U-boats built Comments
IA 1934 2 Fleet going ocean boat modeled on World War I designs
IIA 1934 6 Prototype coastal patrol submarine
IIB 1935 20 Improved coastal patrol submarine
IIC 1937 8 Extended range coastal patrol submarine
IID 1939 16 Long range coastal patrol submarine
III 0 Design schematics created for a mine-layer submarine. Project was dropped due to design flaws
IIIA 0 Prototype small boat carrier designed to hold two fast torpedo boats. Project discontinued due to difficulties launching small boats in heavy seas
IV 0 First attempt at a designing a supply U-boat for replenishment at sea. Cancelled shortly after initial designs.
V 1940 1 Prototype boat, known as V-80, to test a chemical reaction engine.
VI 0 Prototype steam propulsion submarine
VIIA 1935 10 First practical post-World War I attack submarine
VIIB 1936 24 Standard attack submarine in the early months of World War II
VIIC 1938 568 Attack submarine "work horse" for the majority of World War II.
VIIC (Flak) 1942 4 Special variant of Type VII which removed the deck gun and added extra anti-aircraft guns
VIIC/41 1941 91 Upgraded attack boat with several additional offensive and defensive features as well as better diving ability.
VIIC/42 1942 0 Project was cancelled in lieu of contracts for the Type XXI electrical attack boats
VIID 1940 6 Mine layer submarine, few were produced
VIIE 0 Early designs indicate this was to be a deep diving submarine
VIIF 1941 4 Designed to be used as torpedo transport.
VIII 0 Intended as a fast attack submarine. Never went beyond initial designs
IXA 1936 8 First post World War I long range fleet ocean boat
IXB 1937 14 Standard pre-World War II fleet ocean boat
IXC 1939 54 Upgraded fleet ocean boat used in the opening years of World War II
IXC/40 1940 87 Enhanced fleet ocean boat with better diving abilities
IXD1 1940 2[1] Heavy diesel boat, suffered from numerous design flaws. Rebuilt as long range transports
IXD2 1940 28 Heavy diesel engine long range fleet boat. Heaviest and largest of the IX series
IXD/42 1942 2[2] (+ 4 cancelled) Attempt to upgrade the heavy diesel engine design. Never deployed operationally
XA 1939 0 Designed to be used as mine layer. Retooled as the XB transport boat
XB 1939 8 Long range transport boat
XI 1937 0 "Cruiser submarine" with large deck guns. Project was cancelled
XII 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Advanced Fleet Ocean Boat". Never developed.
XIII 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Advanced Coastal Boat". Never developed.
XIV 1940 10 Designed to be used as supply U-boat. Known by the nickname "Milk Cow"
XV 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Long Range Transport Boat". Never developed.
XVI 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Long Range Repair Boat". Never developed.
XVIIA 1942 4 Fast attack boat with chemical propulsion system
XVIIB[3] 1943 3 Upgraded version of the XVIIB with slightly better abilities
XVIIG[4] 1944 0 Upgraded version of the Type XVII. Boats were ordered but never deployed
XVIIK 0 Prototype for a closed cycle diesel engine submarine. Never advanced beyond initial designs
XVIII 1943 0 2 laid down, not completed. Intended for use as an advanced fast attack boat
XIX 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Long range mine layer". Never developed.
XX 0 Prototype for a "Long range transport boat". Project cancelled.
XXI 1943 118 Most advanced U-boat of the Second World War. The first of the "electrical boat" designs
XXII 0 Prototype for an "Advanced coastal boat". Project cancelled.
XXIII 1943 61 Late war fast attack submarine, using the electrical boat design
XXIV 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Advanced fleet ocean boat". Never developed.
XXV 0 Initial designs only. Listed as "Advanced coastal boat". Never developed
XXVI 0 Prototype for a "High speed attack boat". Project cancelled.
XXVIIA 1944 53 Midget submarine "Hecht"
XXVIIB 1944 285 Midget submarine "Seehund"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U-180 and U-195 were boats of type IXD1.
  2. ^ U-883 and U-884 were boats of type IXD/42.
  3. ^ The XVIIC,D,E,F,H,I and J were unused variant design codes of the Germaniawerft shipyards
  4. ^ U-1081 through U-1092 were specified as "G" variants.
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