Type IX submarine

	U-505, a type IXC U-boat
Class overview
Operators	Kriegsmarine; Imperial Japanese Navy (U-511 as Ro-500, U-1224 as Ro-501, U-181 as I-501, U-862 as I-502, and U-195 as I-506); Soviet Navy (post war; U-1231 as B-26); French Navy (post war; U-123 as Blaison and U-510 as Bouan); Royal Canadian Navy (surrendered and seized; U-889 and U-190);
Preceded by	Type I
Succeeded by	Type X (minelayer); Type XXI (oceanic "Elektroboot");
Subclasses	Type XIV (submarine tanker)
Built	1937-1945
In service	1938-1945
Planned	290
Building	195
Completed	194
Cancelled	95
Preserved	2 (U-505 in US and U-534 in UK)
General characteristics
Propulsion	2 × MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 PS (4,300 shp; 3,200 kW); 2 × SSW 1 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 PS (990 shp; 740 kW); 6 × Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 9,000 horsepower (9,100 PS; 6,700 kW) (IX-D/42 Variant);
Speed	33.7 km/h (18.2 kn) (surfaced); 14.3 km/h (7.7 kn) (submerged);
Range	13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	48 to 56 (55 to 63 in Type IXD)
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern); 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (24 in Type IXD); 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun ; various AA guns;

The Type IX U-boat was designed by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for Europe. It was derived from the Type IA,^[2]^[a] and appeared in various sub-types.^[3]

Type IXs had six torpedo tubes; four at the bow and two at the stern. They carried six reloads internally and had five external torpedo containers (three at the stern and two at the bow) which stored ten additional torpedoes. The total of 22 torpedoes allowed U-boat commanders to follow a convoy and strike night after night. Some of the IXC boats were fitted for mine operations; as mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 60 TMB mines.^[4]

Secondary armament was provided by one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun with 180 rounds. Anti-aircraft armament differed throughout the war. They had two periscopes in the tower. Types IXA and IXB had an additional periscope in the control room, which was removed in Type IXC and afterward. These long range boats were frequently equipped with Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 rotor kite towed rotary-wing aircraft.

^ Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 75.
^ Williamson (2005), p. 40.
^ ^a ^b Showell (2006), p. 83.
^ Rössler (2001), p. 104.

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[FOOTNOTEGrönerJungMaass199175-1] Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, p. 75.

[Williamson40-2] Williamson (2005), p. 40.

[Showell83-3] Showell (2006), p. 83.

[Rössler104-5] Rössler (2001), p. 104.

[1]

[2]

[a]

[3]

[4]

Class overview
U-505, a type IXC U-boat
Operators	Kriegsmarine Imperial Japanese Navy (U-511 as Ro-500, U-1224 as Ro-501, U-181 as I-501, U-862 as I-502, and U-195 as I-506) Soviet Navy (post war; U-1231 as B-26) French Navy (post war; U-123 as Blaison and U-510 as Bouan) Royal Canadian Navy (surrendered and seized; U-889 and U-190)
Preceded by	Type I
Succeeded by	Type X (minelayer) Type XXI (oceanic "Elektroboot")
Subclasses	Type XIV (submarine tanker)
Built	1937-1945
In service	1938-1945
Planned	290
Building	195
Completed	194
Cancelled	95
Preserved	2 (U-505 in US and U-534 in UK)
General characteristics
Propulsion	2 × MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 PS (4,300 shp; 3,200 kW) 2 × SSW 1 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 PS (990 shp; 740 kW) 6 × Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 9,000 horsepower (9,100 PS; 6,700 kW) (IX-D/42 Variant)^[1]
Speed	33.7 km/h (18.2 kn) (surfaced) 14.3 km/h (7.7 kn) (submerged)
Range	13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	48 to 56 (55 to 63 in Type IXD)
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (24 in Type IXD) 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun various AA guns