German submarine U-228

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-228
Ordered:	7 December 1940
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	658
Laid down:	18 October 1941
Launched:	30 July 1942
Commissioned:	12 September 1942
Struck:	5 October 1944
Fate:	Broken up, 1944-45
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height:	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power:	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Range:	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 12 September 1942 – 28 February 1943 6th U-boat Flotilla 1 March 1943 – 5 October 1944
Commanders:	Kptlt. Erwin Christophersen 12 September 1942 – August 1944 Kptlt. Herbert Engel August – 5 October 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 6 February – 29 March 1943 2nd patrol: 4 May – 19 July 1943 3rd patrol: 27 September – 20 December 1943 4th patrol: 19–26 March 1944 5th patrol: 6–16 June 1944 6th patrol: 12 August – 20 September 1944
Victories:	None

German submarine U-228 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

Built at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, the U-boat was laid down on 18 October 1941, launched on 30 July 1942 and commissioned on 12 September 1942. U-228 served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla for training, and later with the 6th U-boat Flotilla from 1 March 1943 to 5 October 1944 as a front-line boat. U-228 completed six patrols without sinking any ships, but shot down two aircraft. She was damaged at Bergen, Norway, struck on 5 October 1944 and later broken up.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-228 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-228 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.