Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-185

Type IXC/40 submarine

German submarine U-185
Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-77196 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate The German submarine U-185 sinking after combined attack of several aircraft from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Core (CVE-13), one piloted by Lieutenant R.P. Williams, USNR, 24 August 1943. Incident #4082. 25 men of U-185 and nine survivors from U-604 , who had been aboard U-185 , were rescued on 24 August 1943. She was on her third patrol when sunk and was commanded by Kapitänleutnant August M

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-18513 June 1942 — 24 August 1943437 days of the war
Type IXC/40 submarine Particulars
Name
U-185
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
15 August 1940
Laid down
1 July 1941
Launched
2 March 1942
Commissioned
13 June 1942
Fate
Sunk, by US aircraft on 24 August 1943
By aircraft (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,237 long tons (1,257 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft) OA
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Draught
4.67 m (15.3 ft)
Speed
18.3 knots (33.9 km/h, 21.1 mph)
Range
13,850 nmi (25,650 km)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-185 was a Type IXC/40 submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 1 July 1941. Launched on 2 March 1942, she entered service on 13 June 1942.

142 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,126 long tons surfaced and 1,237 long tons submerged. She measured 76.8 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.9 m (23 ft). Her designed speed was 18.3 knots, and she carried a complement of 48.

Her main battery was one 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 437 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 24 August 1943 by aircraft, at 27°00′N 37°06′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
  • 4400 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
  • 22 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30 AA gun
  • 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns

Sister ships

117 more in the class

Sources