Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-218

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-21824 January 1942 — 12 May 19451,204 days of the war
Type VIID submarine Particulars
Name
U-218
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
16 February 1940
Laid down
17 March 1941
Launched
5 December 1941
Commissioned
24 January 1942
Fate
Surrendered on 12 May 1945
Scuttled on 4 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight (1945)
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-218 was a Type VIID submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Germaniawerft, Kiel laid her keel on 17 March 1941. She entered service on 24 January 1942, having been launched on 5 December 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 1,204 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 12 May 1945, at 55°28′N 7°18′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