Editing German submarine U-2 (1935)

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{{other ships|German submarine U-2}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=U-2 in Kiel 1935.JPG
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=''U-2'' in Kiel, in 1935
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-2''
|Ship ordered=2 February 1935
|Ship builder=[[Deutsche Werke]], [[Kiel]]
|Ship original cost={{Reichsmark|1,500,000|link=yes}}
|Ship yard number=237
|Ship laid down =11 February 1935{{sfn|Rössler|1979|p=99}}
|Ship launched=1 July 1935
|Ship commissioned=25 July 1935
|Ship struck=9 April 1944
|Ship homeport=
|Ship fate=Sunk after a collision west of [[Pillau]], 8 April 1944{{sfn|Busch|Röll|1999b|p=215}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Type II U-boat|Type IIA]] coastal submarine
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|254|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|303|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
*{{convert|381|t|LT|abbr=on}} total
|Ship length=
*{{convert|40.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[o/a]])
*{{convert|27.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[pressure hull]])
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|4.08|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a)
*{{convert|4.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (pressure hull)
|Ship draught={{convert|3.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height={{convert|8.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
*2 × [[propeller shaft (ship)|propeller shaft]]s
*2 × {{convert|0.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}} three-bladed [[propeller]]s
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|double-acting electric motors]]
|Ship power=
*{{convert|700|PS|kW shp|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|360|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship speed=
*{{convert|13|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|6.9|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
*{{convert|1050|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|35|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=3 officers, 22 men
|Ship armament=
*3 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*5 × [[torpedo]]es or up to 12 TMA or 18 TMB [[Naval mine|mines]]
*1 × [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] anti-aircraft gun
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label= 
|partof=
*[[U-boat School Flotilla]]
* 1 July 1935 – 1 August 1939
* 1 September 1939 – 1 February 1940
* 1 March 1940 – 1 April 1940
* 1 May 1940 – 30 June 1940
* [[21st U-boat Flotilla]]
* 1 July 1940 – 8 April 1944
|codes=M 27 610
|commanders=
*''[[Oblt.z.S.]]'' Hermann Michahelles
*25 July 1935 – 30 September 1936
*''[[Kptlt.]]'' Heinrich Liebe
*1 October 1936 – 31 January 1938
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Herbert Schultze
*31 January – 16 March 1938
*''Oblt.z.S.'' / ''Kptlt.'' [[Helmut Rosenbaum]]
*17 March 1939 – 5 August 1940
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Hans Heidtmann
*7 July – 5 August 1940 (deputy)
*''Kptlt.'' Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff
*6 August – October 1941
*Karl Kölzer
*October 1941 – 15 May 1942
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Werner Schwaff
*16 May – 19 November 1942
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Helmut Herglotz
*20 November – 12 December 1943{{sfn|Busch|Röll|1999a|p=283}}
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Wolfgang Schwarzkopf
*13 December 1943 – 8 April 1944
|operations=
*2 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*15 – 29 March 1940
*2nd patrol:
*4 – 15 April 1940 
|victories=No ships sunk or damaged
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-2''''' was a [[German Type II submarine#Type IIA|Type IIA]] [[U-boat]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]''. Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] 11 February 1935 by [[Deutsche Werke]] of [[Kiel]] as yard number 237; she was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 1 July and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 25 July 1935 with ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' (''Oblt.z.S.'') Hermann Michahelles in command.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|1999a|p=283}}

==Design==
[[German Type II submarine]]s were based on the {{ship|Finnish submarine|Vesikko}}. ''U-2'' had a displacement of {{convert|254|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|303|t|LT}} while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was {{convert|250|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}, however.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|40.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|27.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|4.08|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|8.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|3.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[MWM GmbH|MWM]] RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s of {{convert|700|PS|kW shp|-1}} for cruising, and two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] PG VV 322/36 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|360|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|0.85|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[propeller]]s. The U-boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|80|-|150|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|13|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|6.9|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|35|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|1600|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}. ''U-2'' was fitted with three {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s at the bow, five [[torpedo]]es or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a [[2 cm Flak 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft gun]]. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of 25.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}}

==Service history==
She had several commanders over her long career. Michahelles was relieved on 30 September 1936, by ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' (''Kptlt.'') Heinrich Liebe. Liebe turned command over on 31 January 1938 to ''Oblt.z.S.'' Herbert Schultze. On 16 March 1939, ''Kptlt.'' [[Helmut Rosenbaum]] assumed command and on 7 July 1940, ''Oblt.z.S.'' Hans Heidtmann joined Rosenbaum as deputy commander. On 6 August 1940, Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf relieved Rosenbaum and Heidtmann and commanded until October 1941 when Karl Kölzer took over. On 16 May 1942, ''Oblt.z.S.'' Werner Schwaff relieved Kölzer, and on 20 November 1942, was relieved by ''Oblt.z.S.'' Helmut Herglotz. On 12 December 1943, ''Oblt.z.S.'' Wolfgang Schwarzkopf took over and commanded the boat until she was lost.<ref name =uboatnet/>

She was used as a school boat and trainer for her entire career except for two completely uneventful combat patrols in early 1940.<ref name =uboatnet>{{cite web |title=U-2 |url=https://uboat.net/boats/u2.htm |website=uboat.net |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

==Fate==
''U-2'' suffered no casualties to any of her numerous crews until 8 April 1944 when she collided with the German steam [[Naval trawler|trawler]] ''Helmi Söhle''<ref group="Note">Gröner names the vessel involved in the collision as ''[[Hinrich Freese]]'', which according to other sources had already sunk on 16 November 1940 [http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/verluste/ausl-dt-reg-f-h.htm#H].</ref> west of [[Pillau]] (today's Baltiysk, Russia) and sank. 17 of her crew were killed; 18 survived. The wreck was raised the next day and stricken.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==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 = 1999a | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{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=1999b
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=de
}}
*{{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=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
*{{Cite book
|last=Sharpe
|first=Peter
|title=U-Boat Fact File
|publisher=Midland Publishing
|location=Great Britain
|year=1998
|isbn=1-85780-072-9
}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rössler |first1=Eberhard |title=Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden |location=Munich |date=1979 |publisher=[[Bernard & Graefe]] |volume=I|isbn=3-7637-5213-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIvfAAAAMAAJ |language=de}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web
 |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u2.htm
 |title= The Type IIA boat U-2
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date= 6 December 2014
}}
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0002.html
|title=''U 2''
|last=Hofmann
|first=Markus
|website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de
|language=de
|access-date=30 January 2015
}}

{{coord|54.800|N|19.917|E|display=title|source:dewiki}}
{{TypeIIsubmarine}}
{{April 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0002}}
[[Category:German Type II submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1935]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1944]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:1935 ships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:U-boat accidents]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in collisions]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1944]]