U-boat Types

Type XB

8 boats commissioned


Construction history of type XB

U-boats ShipyardWerk #Built during
U-116 - U-1183F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel615- 6171939 - 1941
U-119F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel6241939 - 1942
U-219 - U-2344F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel625- 6641940 - 1944

These boats were laid down as ocean-going submersibles, designed in 1938.

They could carry up to 66 SMA mines in 30 mine shafts and up to 15 torpedoes. The XB class was special for that they only had two torpedo tubes at the stern. As transport boats they carried freight containers in the mine shafts (or had the freight containers welded on top of the lateral shafts, preventing their use for mines).

At 2710 tons submerged and fully loaded they were the largest German U-boats ever built and they paid a penalty in diving speed and agility.

6 of the 8 boats built were sunk during the war (5 with all hands) but two survived the war.

All type XB U-boats

Below you can see the 8 commissioned U-boats of this type.

U-116, U-117, U-118, U-119, U-219, U-220, U-233, and U-234.


Technical information for type XB


Displacement:
(tons)		 1763 (sf)
2177 (sm)
2710 (total)
Length: (m) 89,80 oa
70,90 ph
Beam: (m) 9,20 oa
4,75 ph
Draught: (draft)4,71 m
Height:10,20 m
Power: (hp)4800 (sf)
1100 (sm)
Speed:
(knots)		17,0 (sf)
7,0 (sm)
Range:
(miles / knots)		18450/10 (sf)
93/4 (sm)
Torpedoes:15
0/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Mines: 66 SMA
Deck gun: 105/45
200 rounds
Crew: 48-60 men
Max depth: ca. 220 m
(722 feet)
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, ph = pressure hull,
oa = overall, hp = horsepower.

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