Coastal submarine
Acoastal submarineorlittoral submarine[1]is a small, maneuverablesubmarinewith shallowdraftwell suited to navigation of coastal channels and harbors. Although size is not precisely defined, coastal submarines are larger thanmidget submarines,but smaller than sea-going submarines designed for longer patrols on the open ocean. Space limitations aboard coastal submarines restrict fuel availability for distant travel, food availability for extended patrol duration, and number of weapons carried. Within those limitations, however, coastal submarines may be able to reach areas inaccessible to larger submarines, and be more difficult to detect.
History[edit]
The earliest submarines were effectively coastal submarines, but as modern submarine tactics developed duringWorld War I,the advantages of rapid construction and portability encouraged development ofUBtorpedolaunching, andUCminelayingcoastal submarines in 1915 to operate in theEnglish Channel.These coastal submarines displaced only 15 to 20 percent the weight of a contemporary conventional U-boat,[2]could be built in one-quarter the time it took to complete a conventional U-boat, and be delivered on railway wagons to operating bases inBelgium.[3]Improved versions of UB and UC coastal submarines were devised. Total production of German coastal submarines during World War I was 136 type UB and 95 type UC.[4]
German submarine construction between the world wars began in 1935 with the building of 24Type IIcoastal submarines. These coastal U-boats, with another eight completed prior to hostilities, madeNorth Seacombat patrols during the early months ofWorld War IIand then served in theBaltic Seatraining crews to operate ocean-going submarines.[5]The30th U-boat Flotillaof six Type II U-boats was transported overland on theAutobahnand then down theDanubefor combat patrols in theBlack Seauntil September 1944.[6]
Examples[edit]
- German Type UB I submarine
- German Type UB II submarine
- German Type UB III submarine
- German Type UC I submarine
- German Type UC II submarine
- German Type UC III submarine
- British H-class submarine
- German Type II submarine
- Mackerel-class submarine
- German Type XVII submarine
- Type XXIII submarine
- Ha-201-class submarine
- Type 201 submarine
- Type 205 submarine
- Type 206 submarine
- Sang-O-class submarine
- Gotland-class submarine
- Fateh-class submarine
- Andrasta-class submarine
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^"SSK Andrasta Littoral Submarine, France".naval-technology.Retrieved28 November2016.
- ^Gray, pp.226&228
- ^Tarrant, pp.15-24
- ^Tarrant, p.161
- ^Lenton, pp.121,140-145&149-150
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."30th Flotilla".U-boat.net.Retrieved1 April2014.
Sources[edit]
- Gray, Edwyn A. (1972).The Killing Time.New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
- Lenton, H.T. (1976).German Warships of the Second World War.New York: Arco Publishing Company.ISBN0-668-04037-8.
- Tarrant, V.E. (1989).The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945.London: Cassell & Company.ISBN1-85409-520-X.