Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-217

Type VIID submarine

Displacement
950 long tons (965 t)
Length
76.9 m (252.3 ft)
Beam
6.38 m (20.9 ft)
Speed
16.7 knots (30.9 km/h, 19.2 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-21731 January 1942 — 5 June 1943493 days of the war
Type VIID submarine Particulars
Name
U-217
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
16 February 1940
Laid down
30 January 1941
Launched
15 November 1941
Commissioned
31 January 1942
Fate
Sunk, 5 June 1943 (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
950 long tons (965 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,063 long tons (1,080 t)
Length
76.9 m (252.3 ft) OA
Beam
6.38 m (20.9 ft)
Draught
5.01 m (16.4 ft)
Speed
16.7 knots (30.9 km/h, 19.2 mph)
Range
11,200 nmi (20,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-217 was a Type VIID submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Germaniawerft, Kiel on 30 January 1941. She entered service on 31 January 1942, having been launched on 15 November 1941.

21 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 950 long tons surfaced and 1,063 long tons submerged. She measured 76.9 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.4 m (21 ft). Her designed speed was 16.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 493 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 5 June 1943, at 30°18′N 42°50′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
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 12 × torpedoes or 26 × TMA or 39 × TMB tube-launched mines
  • 5 × vertical launchers with 15 SMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 20 mm AA (4,380 rounds)

Sister ships

Sources