The Seehund was the best attempt by the Germans at an effective midget submarine system. By JR Potts, AUS 173d AB
The Seehund (seal) was the most successful of several Nazi Kriegsmarine attempts to perfect a midget submarine designed in 1944 known as the XXVII B 5, also known as Type 127. Their small size and evasive action made them virtually undetectable and depth charges seemed to bounce off of their resilient hulls. In the final months of the war, the Seehunds were used as "butter boats" to replenish the dwindling supplies of German garrisons stranded along the coast.
These boats had a displacement of 17 tons submerged, a crew of 2 and carried two under slung torpedoes of type G7e. Some Seehund boats had an additional fuel storage that gave them a range of 300 miles at 7 knots surfaced and 63 miles at 3 knots submerged.
Operated by two men and carrying two underslung torpedoes, the Seehund was used very effectively on 142 sorties in the waning months of World War II, sinking over 120,000 tons of allied shipping in the North Sea. 35 Seehund boats were lost in action - most often times to Allied aircraft attack.
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Navy Ship Profile:
Photo Courtesy of Jerry Potts, 173rd Airborne (RET)
1944
Designation: Type XXVII Seehund (Seal) Classification Type:Midget Submarine Ship Class:Seehund-class Country of Origin: Nazi Germany Number in Class: 138
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