Molch
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(August 2021) |
 Molch M391
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Molch |
| Builders | AG Weser,Bremen. |
| Operators |  Kriegsmarine |
| Succeeded by | Biber |
| Built | 1944 |
| Completed | 393 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Midget submarine |
| Propulsion | Electric motor |
| Range | 64 km (40 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) |
| Crew | 1 |
| Armament | Two × G7e torpedoes |
Molch(German language: "newt"or"salamander") was an unsuccessful series of one-manmidget submarinescreated duringWorld War II.Built in 1944, it was the first mini-submarine ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine,but was not successful in combat operations and suffered heavy losses.
Description[edit]
The Molch was based ontorpedotechnology, and carried twoG7e torpedoesattached externally on either side of the craft. It was fully electrical and was created for coastal operations, with a range of 64 km (35 nmi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). The front section of the boat held a large battery. Behind the battery was the operator's position, which sat between two small trimming tanks. Behind the operator sat the electric motor. The complicated system of tanks made it difficult to control during combat operations.
The first of 393 boats were delivered on June 12, 1944, and were built byAG WeserinBremen.
Operational history[edit]
The Molch were first used in theMediterraneanagainst theAllied"Operation Dragoon"in 1944. The submarines were a part of theK-Verband411flotilla. On the night of September 25 they attacked Allied battleships,[clarification needed]with the loss of ten out of the twelve Molch submarines in the flotilla. Shortly after, the remaining two were sunk by Allied warship bombardment off theSanremocoast.
Other Molch flotillas were sent to the Netherlands in December 1944, but were also unsuccessful. From January to April 1945, Molch andBibersubmarines went out on 102 sorties, losing seventy of their own and sank only seven small ships. Due to the ineffectiveness of the Molch in combat operations, it was later used as a training vessel for more advanced midget submarines.
Survivors[edit]
![[icon]](/translate/en.wikipedia.org?u=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg&t=hv){kind=small} | This section is empty.You can help byadding to it.(October 2023) |
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- Helgason, Guðmundur."Molch (Salamander)".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved16 July2006.
- Prenatt, Jamie & Stille, Mark (2014).Axis Midget Submarines: 1939–45.Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing.ISBN978-1-4728-0122-7.
Further reading[edit]
- Tarrant, V.E (1994).The Last Year of the Kriegsmarine.Arms and Armour Press.ISBN1-85409-176-X.
External links[edit]
Media related toGerman Molch submarinesat Wikimedia Commons
