Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-861

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
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-8612 September 1943 — 9 May 1945615 days of the war
Type IXD2 submarine Particulars
Name
U-861
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
15 July 1942
Launched
29 April 1943
Commissioned
2 September 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 9 May 1945
Sunk on 31 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight (1945)
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
5.4 m (17.7 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Range
12,750 nmi (23,613 km)
Complement
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-861 was a Type IXD2 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 15 July 1942. Launched on 29 April 1943, she entered service on 2 September 1943.

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 55.

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

She was in commission for 615 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 9 May 1945, at 55°25′N 7°15′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 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
  • 24 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (150 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

8 more in the class

Sources