German submarine U-151 (1940)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-151.

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-151
Ordered:	25 September 1939
Builder:	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Laid down:	6 July 1940
Launched:	14 December 1940
Commissioned:	15 January 1941
Fate:	Scuttled on 2 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven
General characteristics
Class & type:	IID
Type:	Coastal submarine
Displacement:	314 t (309 long tons) surfaced 364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length:	43.97 m (144 ft 3 in) o/a 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam:	4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) o/a 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height:	8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught:	3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power:	700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels) 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Range:	3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	80 m (260 ft)
Complement:	3 officers, 22 men
Armament:	3 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes 5 × torpedoes or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	24th U-boat Flotilla 15 January - 21 July 1940 21st U-boat Flotilla 22 July 1941 - 1 March 1945 31st U-boat Flotilla 1 March - 2 May 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hans Oestermann 15 January - 21 July 1941 Oblt.z.S. Gustav-Adolf Janssen 22 July - 15 November 1941 Oblt.z.S. Kurt Eichmann 16 November 1941 - September 1942 Oblt.z.S. Paul Just September 1942 - May 1943 Oblt.z.S. Karl-Erich Utischill May 1943 - 31 August 1944 Oblt.z.S. Graf Ferdinand von Arco 1 September 1943 - 2 May 1945

German submarine U-151 was a Type IID U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 6 July 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 280. She was launched on 21 December 1940 and commissioned on 15 January 1941 with Kapitänleutnant Hans Oestermann in command.

U-151 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 22nd flotilla and subsequently to the 31st flotilla. She spent the war as a training vessel.

She was scuttled in May 1945.

Design

German Type IID submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-151 had a displacement of 314 tonnes (309 long tons) when at the surface and 364 tonnes (358 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.97 m (144 ft 3 in), a pressure hull length of 29.80 m (97 ft 9 in), a beam of 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-151 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.

Fate

The boat surrendered at the German island of Heligoland and was scuttled in the Raederschleuse (lock) at Wilhelmshaven on 2 May 1945. The wreck was broken up on an unknown date.