German submarine U-1222
{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Nazi Germany |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}} |Ship name=U-1222 |Ship ordered=25 August 1941 |Ship builder=Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg |Ship yard number= 385 |Ship laid down= 2 November 1942 |Ship launched=9 June 1943 |Ship commissioned=1 September 1943 |Ship homeport= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship fate=Sunk on 11 July 1944 by British aircraft west of La Rochelle in position {{coord|46|31|N|5|29|W|display=inline, title}}{{sfn|Busch|Röll|1999|p=266}} |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=Type IXC/40 submarine |Ship displacement=
|Ship length=
|Ship beam=
|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|4.67|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=
|
| 1|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed=
|Ship range=
|Ship test depth={{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship complement=4 officers, 44 enlisted |Ship armament=*6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
|Ship notes= }}{{Infobox service record |is_ship=yes |label= |partof=
|codes=M 55 214 |commanders=
|operations=*1 patrol:
|victories=None }} |
German submarine U-1222 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-1222 had a displacement of {{convert|1144|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1257|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.86|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.67|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|4400|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|1000|shp|PS kW|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.92|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|18.3|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.3|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|63|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|13850|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-1222 was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 as well as two twin 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}
Service history
U-1222 was ordered on 25 August 1941 from Deutsche Werft in Hamburg-Finkenwerder under the yard number 385. Her keel was laid down on 2 November 1942 and was launched the following year on 9 June 1943. About three months later she was commissioned into service on 1 September 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bielfeld (Crew 34) in the 4th U-boat Flotilla.
After work-up for deployment, U-1222 transferred to the 10th U-boat Flotilla and left Kiel for the West Atlantic on 13 April 1944 for her first and only patrol. Stopping briefly in Marvik, Norway, for replenishment, she operated with no success south of Nova Scotia.
Returning from patrol, U-1222 was charging her batteries while submerged, when her snorkel was spotted by a British aircraft, Sunderland 'P' of No. 201 Squadron RAF, on 11 July 1944 off La Rochelle. The aircraft immediately attacked the U-boat with depth charges and sank her. All 56 crew members died in the event.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|1999|p=266}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 |ref=none }}
- {{cite book
|last1=Busch
|first1=Rainer
|last2=Röll
|first2=Hans-Joachim
|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945
|series=Der U-Boot-Krieg
|volume=IV
|publisher=Mittler
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn
|year=1999
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=German
}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
{{refend}}
{{German Type IXC/40 submarines}}
{{July 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U1222}}
Category:World War II submarines of Germany
Category:German Type IX submarines
Category:U-boats commissioned in 1943
Category:Ships built in Hamburg
Category:U-boats sunk by British aircraft
Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges