Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-851

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
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-85121 May 1943 — 27 March 1944311 days of the war
Type IXD2 submarine Particulars
Name
U-851
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
20 January 1941
Laid down
18 March 1942
Launched
15 January 1943
Commissioned
21 May 1943
Fate
Missing since 27 March 1944 (1944)
Status
Unknown

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
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-851 was a Type IXD2 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen laid her keel on 18 March 1942. She entered service on 21 May 1943, having been launched on 15 January 1943.

She was one of 33 ships of her class. 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 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 311 days of the Second World War.

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 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 (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