Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-850

Type IXD2 submarine

Displacement
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft)
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Complement
66
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-85017 April 1943 — 20 December 1943247 days of the war
Type IXD2 submarine Particulars
Name
U-850
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
20 January 1941
Laid down
17 March 1942
Launched
7 December 1942
Commissioned
17 April 1943
Fate
Sunk west of Madeira on 20 December 1943 by US aircraft in position 32
By aircraft (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,771 long tons (1,799 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft) OA
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Draught
5.35 m (17.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Range
12,750 nmi (23,613 km)
Complement
66
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

U-850 was a Type IXD2 submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 17 March 1942. She entered service on 17 April 1943, having been launched on 7 December 1942.

Her class ran to 33 ships. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,585 long tons surfaced and 1,771 long tons submerged. She measured 87.6 m (287 ft) long with a beam of 7.5 m (25 ft). Her designed speed was 20.8 knots, and she carried a complement of 66.

Her main battery was one 37 mm (1.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 247 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 20 December 1943 by aircraft, at 32°54′N 37°01′W. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 9000 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
  • 24 × torpedoes or 48 TMA or 72 TMB naval mines
  • 1 × SK L/45 'Utof' deck gun (150 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

8 more in the class

Sources