While exceptional these boats had many flaws, the worst being their very poor seakeeping, nevertheless these boats are considered the Best submarines of the second world war by many historians and served as the basis for many post war submarines especially soviet ones. Upon completion of the attack run the Type XXI would turn escape at flank speed at depth as most allied sonars were unable to pic up the boats high speed of 13 knots. Without the periscope in use the distance and bearing of the target could be accurately (most of the time) calculated by a fire control center inside the submarine. The Type XXIs in terms of attack where radically different than most submarines, once a target had been sighted the attack maneuver commenced by Running at full speed on a direct collision course with the target no mater the type of ship while remaining at attack depth. Three Further Variants (XXID, XXIE, and XXIF) were proposed but not built. Three Variants of the Type XXI Were Built, The Base XXI (Sometimes called XXIA), the XXIB, and the XXIC they all differed primarily in armament with the exception of the XXIC as it was longer than the other variants. The complement of the submarine was five officers and fifty-two men. They could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. ![]() The Type XXI U-Boats were fitted with six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm C/30 Flak 30 anti-aircraft guns. When submerged, they could operate at 5 knots for 340 nautical miles when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles at 10 knots. However, when running on silent the boat could only operate at a speed of 6.1 knots. The Type XXI U-Boat had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots. Most had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in), however the Type XXIC was Longer at a Length of 83 meters (263 ft), The Type XXIs were powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS, and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS. Most Type XXI U-boats had a displacement of 1,621 tons surfaced, and 1,819 tons submerged. ![]() The Type XXI Class was nicknamed Elektroboot due to its primarily electric propulsion system which allowed the Type XXIs to be great Stealth Submarines. The Type XXI U-Boat of which U-2540 was a part of can be considered one of the most advanced U-Boats constructed during the Second World War. 13 dead, unknown number of survivors.U-2540s history is a complicated one, and one of great interest. Scuttled on in position 55.09N, 11.08E at 0512 hrs. Badly burning, the boat was beached off Ömo with the remaining crew landed ashore. It was hit at least by one rocket, causing severe damage in the CT area and killing several of the crew including the CO. The boat was on its way to Norway on 3 May 45 when it was caught on the surface by Beaufighters of the Banff Strike Wing (236 and 254 Sqdn RAF) while in the Great Belt near Ömo Light Tower. Karl-Jürg Wächter ( German Cross in Gold)
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