U-40 file photo [29184]

U-40

CountryGermany
Ship ClassType IX-class Submarine
Builder NameDeutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG
Yard Number945
Ordered29 Jul 1936
Laid Down1 Jul 1937
Launched9 Nov 1938
Commissioned11 Feb 1939
Sunk13 Oct 1939
Displacement1,032 tons standard; 1,153 tons submerged
Length251 feet
Beam21 feet
Draft15 feet
Machinery2 diesel engines (4,300bhp), 2 electric motors (990shp), 2 shafts
Speed18 knots
Range10,000nm at 10 knots surfaced, 65-78nm at 4 knots submerged
Crew48
Armament4x53.3cm bow torpedo tubes, 2x53.3cm stern torpedo tubes, 22 torpedoes, 1x10.5cm SK C/32 gun, 1x3.7cm SK C/30 anti-aircraft gun, 1x2x2cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun

Contributor:

ww2dbaseU-40 was commissioned into service in Feb 1939. In her short career, she had two commanding officers, Kapitänleutnant Werner von Schmidt and Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Barten. She conducted two war patrols. In Oct 1939, she struck a mine in the Strait of Dover and sank. 39 were killed during the sinking and 9 survived. 6 of the survivors would die of wounds or exposure, however. The 3 survivors were rescued and taken prisoner aboard destroyer HMS Boreas.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Submarine U-40 Interactive Map

U-40 Operational Timeline

29 Jul 1936 The order for the construction of U-40 was issued.
1 Jul 1937 The keel of U-40 was laid down by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen, Germany.
9 Nov 1938 U-40 was launched by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen, Germany.
11 Feb 1939 U-40 was commissioned into service with Kapitänleutnant Werner von Schmidt in command. She was assigned to the 6th Submarine Flotilla.
19 Aug 1939 U-40 departed Wilhelmshaven, Germany for her first war patrol. She was to patrol waters off of Gibraltar.
18 Sep 1939 U-40 arrived at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, ending her first war patrol.
10 Oct 1939 U-40 departed Wilhelmshaven, Germany for her second war patrol. She was to patrol waters off of Portugal and Spain.
13 Oct 1939 U-40 struck a mine in the Strait of Dover and sank. 39 were killed. 9 survived the sinking, but 6 would die before being rescued.

Photographs

U-40 at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, 1939U-40, circa 1940




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Submarine U-40 Photo Gallery
U-40 at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, 1939
See all 2 photographs of Submarine U-40




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