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39-528: German submarine U-864 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of Nazi Germany 's Kriegsmarine in World War II. On 9 February 1945, she became the only submarine in history to be sunk by an enemy submarine while both were submerged. U-864 was sunk by the British submarine HMS  Venturer , and all 73 men on board died. German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs . U-864 had

78-700: A snorkel mast . Several messages found in the Ultra archives show that there were problems with the snorkel, which needed repairs before the U-864 put to sea for her voyage to Japan. All Schnorkel trials and training were conducted at Horten near Oslo. U-864 would have needed to be certified ready to sail at Horten before proceeding to Bergen . While en route to Bergen, U-864 ran aground and had to stop in Farsund for repairs, not arriving in Bergen until 5 January 1945. While docked in

117-423: A displacement of 1,610 t (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in). The submarine

156-447: A torpedoed ship ( Laconia incident ), and U-107 operating off Freetown, Sierra Leone under the command of Günter Hessler , which had the most successful single mission of the war ever with close to 100,000  GRT sunk. DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built 14 Type IXB U-boats. Thirteen were sunk in the course of the war. The Type IXC was a further refinement of the class with storage for an additional 43 tonnes of fuel, increasing

195-588: The 4th U-boat Flotilla undergoing crew training from her commissioning until 31 October 1944. She was then reassigned to the 33rd U-boat Flotilla . According to decrypted intercepts of German naval communications with Japan, U-864 ' s mission was to transport military equipment to Japan destined for the Japanese military industry, a mission code-named Operation Caesar . The cargo included approximately 67 short tons (61 t) of metallic mercury in 1,857 32 kg (71 lb) steel flasks stored in her keel. That

234-625: The Norwegian Parliament determined the Navy's main base should be moved to Bergen . When the new headquarters at Haakonsvern was officially opened in 1963, a number of functions were transferred from Karljohansvern. In 1968, the National Government took over the shipyard and renamed it A/S Horten Verft. which was closed down in 1987. The Officer Candidate School for the Navy remained on site until 2005. The Naval District East (ØSD) based there

273-654: The Bruno U-boat pens , U-864 received minor damage on 12 January when the pens and shipping in the harbour were attacked by 32 Royal Air Force Lancaster bombers and one Mosquito bomber of 9 and 617 Squadrons. At least one Tallboy bomb penetrated the roof of the bunker causing severe damage inside, and left one of the seven pens unusable for the remainder of the war. After repairs and adjustments to her snorkel were completed U-864 commenced submerged trials but German radio transmissions regarding her whereabouts had been decrypted and British submarine HMS  Venturer

312-562: The Norwegian Coastal Administration has recommended entombing the wreck in a 12 m (39 ft) thickness of sand, with a reinforcing layer of gravel or concrete to prevent erosion. This is being proposed as a permanent solution to the problem, and the proposal notes that similar techniques have been successfully used around 30 times to contain mercury-contaminated sites over the past 20 years. The fragmented wreck contains 67 tonnes of toxic liquid mercury. Over time part of

351-493: The Norwegian government approved the proposed method of raising the wreck, and the operation was scheduled to begin in 2010. The operation was estimated to cost 1 billion kroner (US$ 153 million). However, the operation was postponed after the government asked for additional studies. In the spring of 2016, the Norwegian Coastal Administration installed a counter fill on the slope under the bow section of U-864 in order to stabilize

390-639: The Royal Norwegian Navy Band (Horten), a department of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and some of the Navy's school administration are still present. In 2001, Preus Museum moved to the former naval facility. As of 2006, the entire base including 73 buildings has been given protected heritage status by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage . This military base or fortification article

429-569: The U-boat's snorkel. In a long engagement and in a situation for which neither crew had been trained, Venturer waited 45 minutes after making contact before going to action stations . Recognising they were being followed and that their escort had still not arrived, U-864 began zig-zagging. After three hours, Venturer fired all four bow torpedo tubes at the U-boat's predicted position, beginning at 12:12, at 17-second intervals and at variable depths, then dived deeper to avoid retaliation. U-864 heard

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468-579: The boat's range. This series omitted the control room periscope leaving the boats with two tower scopes. As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, though the 35 boats of U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 were not fitted for mine operations. The only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico , U-166 , was a Type IXC. U-505 survives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago , and

507-469: 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 . Secondary armament

546-425: The class and had a range of 23,700 nautical miles (43,900 km; 27,300 mi). The IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5,400 hp (4,000 kW; 5,500 PS) instead of 4,400 hp (3,300 kW; 4,500 PS)). In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from a number of IXD boats converted for transport use. In their new role they could transport 252 tonnes of cargo. The range

585-589: The comic book "Le dernier secret d'Hitler" by Mathieu Mariolle, Fabio Piacentini and Massimo Travaglini. The shipwreck was located in March 2003 by the Royal Norwegian Navy two nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) west of the island of Fedje in the North Sea , at 150 m (490 ft). The mercury had been seeping out of rusted containers, contaminating the region and sea life. One study recommended entombing

624-511: The half-buried keel were abandoned after the unstable wreck shifted, one of the steel bottles was recovered. Its original five-millimetre (0.20 in) thick wall was found to have corroded badly, leaving in places a one mm (0.039 in) thickness of steel. The delicate condition of the 2,400-ton wreck, the rusting mercury bottles, and the live torpedoes on board would make a lifting operation extremely dangerous, with significant potential for an environmental catastrophe. A three-year study by

663-564: The manufacture of explosives, especially primers . There was some speculation as to whether U-864 was carrying uranium oxide , as was the U-234 , which surrendered to the US Navy in the Atlantic on 15 May 1945, but Det Norske Veritas (DNV) concluded that there was no evidence that uranium oxide was on board U-864 when she departed Bergen. During the Norwegian Coastal Administration's investigation of

702-461: The mercury was contained in steel canisters was confirmed when one of the canisters containing mercury was located and brought to the surface during surveys of her wreck in 2005. Approximately 1,500 short tons (1,400 t) of mercury was purchased by the Japanese from Italy between 1942 and Italy's surrender in September 1943. This had the highest priority for submarine shipment to Japan and was used in

741-407: The seabed where she lay. Establishing that the counter fill in 2016 was a similar operation as capping, the government decided that capping could be carried out with proven technology and with minimum spreading of contaminated sediments. In 2024, authorities decided to retrieve the accessible parts of the mercury in 2026, before capping the rest. German Type IX submarine The Type IX U-boat

780-430: The seabed. The operation involved laying approximately 100 000 cubic meters of sand and rock in a controlled and precise manner from a specially designed ship. The result was reduced risk of movement by unconsolidated sediments, including contaminated materials, during seaquakes. In October 2018 the Norwegian Coastal Administration decided that the wreck of U-864 would be entombed after all by capping her in clean fill on

819-527: The seafloor was mounted in October 2003. The wreck was in two major sections, fore and aft, with the center section missing, including the conning tower. Further analysis was performed with a remotely operated underwater vehicle in August 2005, locating an additional 107 pieces of vessel debris in the area, likely parts of the exploded center section. The mercury , contained in 1,857 rusting steel bottles located down in

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858-400: The torpedoes coming and also dived deeper and turned away. She managed to evade the first three but steered into the path of the fourth and imploded, split in two and sank with all hands, coming to rest in over 150 m (490 ft) of water, 2 nmi (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) West of Fedje. The battle between U-864 and HMS Venturer was the subject of a highly fictionalized version in

897-494: The toxic metal had spread over an area of 30,000 square metres (7.4 acres). The 2007 proposal to entomb the wreck rather than removing it was criticised by locals concerned about possible future leakage. On 11 November 2008, the Norwegian Coastal Administration awarded the contract for the possible salvage of the U-864 submarine and her cargo of mercury to salvage company Mammoet Salvage BV . Mammoet, which

936-417: The vessel's keel, was found to be leaking out and poses a severe environmental threat of mercury poisoning . So far four kilograms (8.8 lb) per year of mercury is leaking into the surrounding environment, resulting in high levels of contamination in cod , cusk and edible crab around the wreck. Boating and fishing near the wreck has been prohibited. Although attempts using robotic vehicles to dig into

975-616: The wreck of U-864 in 2005, radiation measurements were made but no traces of uranium oxide were found. According to her cargo list, U-864 also carried parts and engineering drawings for German jet fighter aircraft and other military supplies for Japan, while among her passengers were Messerschmitt engineers Rolf von Chlingensperg and Riclef Schomerus, Japanese torpedo expert Tadao Yamoto, and Japanese fuel expert Toshio Nakai. The U-864 , commanded by Wolfram, left Kiel on 5 December 1944, arriving at Horten Naval Base , Norway four days later. Before leaving Germany, U-864 had been refitted with

1014-462: The wreck under a layer of sand as well as gravel and concrete. The Norwegian government instead awarded a contract to a salvage company to raise the wreck; however, the proposed operation was put on hold pending additional studies. It was the Royal Norwegian Navy minesweeper KNM Tyr , alerted by local fishermen, that found the wreck. An expedition to gather more detail by sonar mapping of

1053-465: Was an improved model with an increased range. It was the most successful version overall with each boat averaging a total of over 100,000  GRT sunk. Notable IXB boats included U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen , which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat , U-156 , which was bombed by a US aircraft while flying a Red Cross -flag and rescuing survivors of

1092-508: Was awarded the contract for the salvage of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk in 2001, had proposed a method of raising U-864 ' s wreck which would satisfy the environmental requirements, described as "a safe and innovative salvage solution". This was reported to be a safe, fully remotely controlled operation which would raise the submarine and remove the source of pollution without the need for anyone working under water. On 29 January 2009,

1131-671: Was begun in 1820 and the first launch, a frigate, was in 1828. On 9 April 1940 during the German invasion of Norway , a battle took place in the harbour when the Germans attempted to seize the base. The naval attack was repulsed, but German troops managed to outflank the Norwegians and force them to capitulate. Karljohansvern remained in German hands for the rest of World War II , while the ships operating out of it were pressed into their service. In 1953,

1170-496: Was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 m (660 ft). The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 kn (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 kn (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nmi (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 kn (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-864

1209-550: Was completely renovated after being moved in 2004 to a purpose-built indoor berth. DeSchiMAG AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg built 54 Type IXC submarines. Only four survived the war, one of which is preserved in the US. Type IXC/40 was an improved Type IXC with slightly increased range and surfaced speed. The remains of U-534 are on display at Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead . DeSchiMAG AG Weser and Seebeckwerft of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg, built 87 of this type. Type IXD

German submarine U-864 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-481: 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 , and appeared in various sub-types. Type IXs had six torpedo tubes ; four at

1287-544: Was disbanded in 2002. The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum ( Marinemuseet ) and the fortress Norske Løve on Vealøs remain. Only the island of Vealøs, which is connected to Horten with a bridge, is still owned by the Department of Defence. The whole island is still a military area, and the area is cordoned off with fencing, video surveillance and guard booths. The former shipyard has been converted into an industrial park, Horten Industripark . The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum and

1326-578: Was extended to 31,500 nautical miles (58,300 km; 36,200 mi). DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built 30 Type IXD U-boats. Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen, but only two were commissioned. They were: Karljohansvern In 1818, it was decided to establish a naval base in Horten. It was first called Hortens verft , and later Marinens Hovedværft until King Oscar I named it Carljohansværn værft in 1854 (after his father Karl Johan ). The shipyards

1365-480: Was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes , one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun , 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five. Commanded throughout her entire career by Korvettenkapitän Ralf-Reimar Wolfram , she served with

1404-495: Was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shp (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers . The boat

1443-523: 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. DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen built eight Type IXA U-boats. Type IXB

1482-521: Was sent from the British submarine base at Lerwick to intercept. On 6 February, U-864 passed the Fedje area without being detected but after one of her engines began to misfire, she was ordered to return to Bergen where an escort would be provided at Hellisøy . On 9 February, Venturer detected U-864 ' s diesel engine noise using her hydrophone as she was refraining from using active sonar ( ASDIC ) to avoid disclosing her position and later spotted

1521-519: Was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. It was faster than the IXC but at the cost of slightly reduced maneuverability. It had three pairs of Daimler Benz diesels: two pairs for cruise and one for high speed or battery recharge. There were three variants: the IXD1, IXD2 and IXD/42. The IXD1 had unreliable engines and they were later converted for use in surface transport vessels. The IXD2 comprised most of

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