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High resolution picture
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The submarines of the Type VIIA had limited fuel capacity and thus twenty-four exemplars of the Type VIIB, carrying 33 additional
tonnes of fuel in external saddle tanks, were built between 1936 and 1940; this added 2500 nautical miles (4600 kilometers) of
operational range if navigating in the surface at 10 knots (19 kilometers/hour). More powerful engines and two rudders made the
Type VIIB slightly faster and more mneuverable.
In the surface, the submarines of the Type VIIB were powered by two MAN M6V 40/46 6-cylinder 4-stroke supercharged Diesel engines,
developing a total of 3200 horsepower at 480 revolutions per minute. The U 45 to U 50, U 83, U 85, U 87, U 99, U 100 and U 102 were
instead powered by two Germaniawerft F46 6-cylinder 4-stroke supercharged Diesel engines. When submerged, the submarines of the
Type VIIB were powered by two AEG GU 460/8-276 electric motors, developing a total of 750 horsepower at 295 revolutions per minute.
The U 45, U 46, U 49, U 51, U 52, U 54, U 73 to U 76, U 99 and U-100 retained the BBC electric motor of the Type VIIA.
The torpedo armament was improved by reallocating the aft tube inside the hull, which allowed to carry an additional torpedo beneath
the deck plating of the aft torpedo room (which also served as the electric motor room). Two watertight compartments beneath the upper
deck could hold two additional torpedoes, for a total of fourteen torpedoes. The only exception to this was the U 83, which lacked
a stern tube and carried only twelve torpedoes.
The Type VIIB included some of the most famous U-boats of the Second World War, such as the U 48 (the most successful), the U 47
commanded by Günther Prien (depicted in here), the U 99 commanded by Otto Kretschmer and the U 100 commanded by Joachim Schepke.
Type VIIB: 24 units (U 45 to U 102)
Type: Attack submarine
Length: 66.5 meters
Beam: 6.2 meters
Draught: 4.7 meters
Displacement (surfaced): 753 tonnes
Displacement (submerged): 857 tonnes
Propulsion: 2 x shaft, 2 x Diesel engine 1600 horsepower, 2 x electric motor 375 horsepower
Speed (surfaced): 17.9 knots (33.1 kilometers/hour)
Speed (submerged): 8 knots (14.8 kilometers/hour)
Range (surfaced): 8700 nautical miles (16110 kilometers) at 10 knots
Range (submerged): 90 nautical miles (166 kilometers) at 4 knots
Test depth: 220 meters
Complement: 44-48
Armament: 5 x 533-millimeter torpedo tube (4 at prow, 1 astern), 14 x torpedo or 26 x TMA mine,
1 x 88-millimeter deck cannon, 1 x 20-millimeter antiaircraft cannon
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