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Type IX U-boat

The Type IX U-boat was designed in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. It was derived from the Type IA, and appeared in various sub-types.

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. As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, but many of the IXC boats were not fitted for mine operations.

Secondary armament was provided by one large Utof 105/45 gun with about 110 rounds. Antiaircraft 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 deleted in Type IXC and afterward.

Table of contents
1 Type IXA
2 Type IXB
3 Type IXC
4 Type IXC/40
5 Type IXD

Type IXA

Eight Type IXA U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.

U-37 - U-38 - U-39 - U-40 - U-41 - U-42 - U-43 - U-44

General characteristics

Type IXB

Type IXB was an improved with an increased range. It was the most successful overall with each boat averaging a total of over 100,000 tons sunk.

Famous IXB boats included U-123 under the command of Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, and U-107 out of Freetown, Africa under the command of Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war over with close to 100,000 tons sunk.

14 Type IXB U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.

U-64 - U-65 - U-103 - U-104 - U-105 - U-106 - U-107 - U-108 - U-109 - U-110 - U-111 - U-122 - U-123 - U-124

General characteristics

Type IXC

Type IXC was a further refinement with storage for additional 43 tons of fuel, giving an increased range. 
These 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 U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 (35 boats), were not fitted for mine operations. 

54 of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.

U-66 - U-67 - 
U-68 - U-125 - 
U-126 - U-127 - 
U-128 - U-129 - 
U-130 - U-131 - 
U-153 - U-154 - 
U-155 - U-156 - 
U-157 - U-158 - 
U-159 - U-160 - 
U-161 - U-162 - 
U-163 - U-164 - 
U-165 - U-166 - 
U-171 - U-172 - 
U-173 - U-174 - 
U-175 - U-176 - 
U-501 - U-502 - 
U-503 - U-504 - 
U-505 - U-506 - 
U-507 - U-508 - 
U-509 - U-510 - 
U-511 - U-512 - 
U-513 - U-514 - 
U-515 - U-516 - 
U-517 - U-518 - 
U-519 - U-520 - 
U-521 - U-522 - 
U-523 - U-524


General characteristics


Type IXC/40

Type IXC/40 was a slight modification of Type IXC with a slightly increased range and somewhat higher surface speed.

87 of this type were built by AG Weser and Seebeck Yard of Bremen, and Deutsche Werft of Hamburg.

U-167 - U-168 - 
U-169 - U-170 - 
U-183 - U-184 - 
U-185 - U-186 - 
U-187 - U-188 - 
U-189 - U-190 - 
U-191 - U-192 - 
U-193 - U-194 - 
U-525 - U-526 - 
U-527 - U-528 - 
U-529 - U-530 - 
U-531 - U-532 - 
U-533 - U-534 - 
U-535 - U-536 - 
U-537 - U-538 - 
U-539 - U-540 - 
U-541 - U-542 - 
U-543 - U-544 - 
U-545 - U-546 - 
U-547 - U-548 - 
U-549 - U-550 - 
U-801 - U-802 - 
U-803 - U-804 - 
U-805 - U-806 - 
U-841 - U-842 - 
U-843 - U-844 - 
U-845 - U-846 - 
U-853 - U-854 - 
U-855 - U-856 - 
U-857 - U-858 - 
U-865 - U-866 - 
U-867 - U-868 - 
U-869 - U-870 - 
U-877 - U-878 - 
U-879 - U-880 - 
U-881 - U-889 - 
U-1221 - U-1222 - 
U-1223 - U-1224 - 
U-1225 - U-1226 - 
U-1227 - U-1228 - 
U-1229 - U-1230 - 
U-1231 - U-1232 - 
U-1233 - U-1234 - 
U-1235


General characteristics


Type IXD
 

Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40.  
A variant of the Type IXD, known as the IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5400 ehp instead of 4400). 

In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from the IXD boats and they converted for transport use. 
In their new role the could transport 252 tons of freight. 

30 Type IXD U-boats were built AG Weser of Bremen.
U-177 - U-178 -
U-179 - U-180 -
U-181 - U-182 -
U-195 - U-196 - 
U-197 - U-198 -
U-199 - U-200 -
U-847 - U-848 -
U-849 - U-850 -
U-851 - U-852 -
U-859 - U-860 -
U-861 - U-862 -
U-863 - U-864 -
U-871 - U-872 -
U-873 - U-874 -
U-875 - U-876 

Several Type IXD/42 U-boats were contracted to be built AG Weser of Bremen, but only one was commissioned.

U-883 was launched on April 28, 1944 and commissioned March 27, 1945. 
Her career ended in Operation Deadlight.

U-884 was launched on May 17, 1944 but was badly damaged on March 30, 1945 by US bombs while still in dockyard hands.  U-885, U-886 U-887, and U-888 were laid down but construction halted on September 30, 1943 when all IXD/42 contracts were cancelled. 


General characteristics